Budget 2026: Vande Bharat train journey is now comfortable, government has made a big financial promise, there will be an expenditure of so many crores

Tomorrow, on February 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the 9th consecutive budget. In this budget, a special package for the railways is likely to be announced. According to experts' estimates, the railways could receive funding of 2.70 lakh crore to 2.80 lakh crore rupees. The central government is focusing on making railway facilities modern and comfortable, and it is expected that the railways will receive the highest funding this year.

Priority will be given to the expansion of railway routes, creation of new railways, and modernization. There is a plan to start Vande Bharat sleeper trains to make passengers' journeys comfortable. By June, 8 Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be operational, and a total of 12 such modern trains will be available to the country throughout the entire financial year. These trains are specifically designed for night travel, and the expansion of Amrit Bharat stations for middle-class passengers will also be undertaken.

The new version of Amrit Bharat stations will be launched by March, which will use Artificial Intelligence (AI). This will make travel more comfortable and safe. Additionally, extra coaches will be added to eliminate the waiting list issue over the next two years, and a new generation of trains will be developed. All these announcements are expected in tomorrow's budget.

Meanwhile, the countdown for the presentation of the Union Budget 2026 has begun. Today, on January 31, the traditional 'Halwa Ceremony' took place at the North Block in Delhi. In this ceremony, Finance Minister Sitharaman distributed sweets to the officials involved in preparing the budget and started the printing of the budget.

According to Indian tradition, sweets are considered auspicious, but administratively, this ceremony marks the beginning of the budget's secrecy. After the Halwa ceremony, about 60 to 70 officers and employees enter a 'lock-in' period, ensuring no information leaks. This budget will be crucial for the country's development, and announcements in the railway sector, in particular, will be reassuring for passengers. Everyone's focus is on the presentation.