Indian railway budget impacts economy

Published February 26, 2013
Indian contract workers transport baggage at a railway station in Hyderabad.  ?Photo by AFP
Indian contract workers transport baggage at a railway station in Hyderabad. ?Photo by AFP
Indian commuters wait to board a train in Mumbai, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian commuters wait to board a train in Mumbai, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian girl travels on a local train in New Delhi. ?Photo by AFP
Indian girl travels on a local train in New Delhi. ?Photo by AFP
Indian passengers inside a local train in New Delhi. ?Photo by AFP
Indian passengers inside a local train in New Delhi. ?Photo by AFP
Indian commuters travel in a local train in Kolkata, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian commuters travel in a local train in Kolkata, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian railway employees work on the tracks at a railway station in Hyderabad.  ?Photo by AFP
Indian railway employees work on the tracks at a railway station in Hyderabad. ?Photo by AFP
In this February 13 photo, Indian commuters travel on an overcrowded train in Mumbai, India. ?Photo by AP
In this February 13 photo, Indian commuters travel on an overcrowded train in Mumbai, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal (C) arrives to present the annual budget for the country's railway system, at the parliament in New Delhi. ?Photo by Reuters
Indian Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal (C) arrives to present the annual budget for the country's railway system, at the parliament in New Delhi. ?Photo by Reuters
Indian passengers travel on a local train in New Delhi. ?Photo by AFP
Indian passengers travel on a local train in New Delhi. ?Photo by AFP
Indian commuters try to board an overcrowded train in Mumbai, India. ?Photo by AP
Indian commuters try to board an overcrowded train in Mumbai, India. ?Photo by AP

Indian railway network is one of the world's largest. Its 11,000 passenger and freight trains carry some 14 million passengers and transport large shipments daily. With 64,000 kilometers of railway tracks that cut through some of the most densely populated cities, it is also the country's largest employer with around 1.4 million people on its payroll.

Indian Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s presentation of the country's rail budget for next fiscal year in the parliament, will no doubt affect India’s economy as a whole. —Photos and texts by Agencies

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