Railway minister Mamata Banerjee announced 56 new express trains in Railway Budget 2011-12. Apart from these express trains several other new trains, like nine Duranto trains, two double-decker AC trains and three Shatabdi trains were also announced.

Praising the Railway Budget on Friday as a “common man’s budget”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the budget will help to “weaken the cost crucial element of inflationary expectations”. The main Opposition BJP, however, termed it as an “election manifesto” for West Bengal Assembly polls which has “ignored” the rest of the country. The party demanded a performance budget by the government on performance level of the earlier projects “promised” by the ministry.

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee would like to modernise the railways. She would also like to improve the availability of rolling stock. So on Friday, she announced that the railways would be setting up “rail-based industries” in the country.

In order to ensure the safety and security of trains and passengers, railway minister Mamata Banerjee, in her Budget, has offered two new trains and two new projects as a special package for states that ensure trouble-free train running for a whole year. An All-India security helpline has also been set up to facilitate passengers security and is all set to become operational this year.

With elections round the corner in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, in her Budget has announced a range of new proposals that includes new lines, gauge conversion, doubling and new trains.

It’s a project that has for long been on the back-burner — the installation of anti-collision devices (ACDs) for nearly a decade now. Partly owing to political indifference and partly due to internal issues regarding its introduction with the railways as well as its efficacy.

With an eye on Bengal elections and a target of at least over 200 Assembly seats, the Trinamul supremo and railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, rolled out a series of trains for her home state. Also trying to dent the Red bastion, Ms Banerjee announced a non-stop train from Howrah to Burdwan. This is a belt, Ms Banerjee would try to wrest from the Red brigade.

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday stated that this year’s budget was being presented with a view towards fulfilling the social responsibility towards the people of the country. She announced several schemes, most of which are still on the drawing board, that the Railways proposes to implement in the future.

Announced with much fanfare last year, the railways much vaunted project to develop some railways stations in the country as “world-class” stations have failed to take off. However, railway minister Mamata Banerjee was honest enough to admit as much in her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The Railway Budget for 2011-2012 has offered a slew of concessions to a variety of people, ranging from media to physically handicapped, to senior citizens, to women and armed forces personnel and their parents.