Unlike the uproar witnessed in recent years, the presentation of the Railway Budget in Lok Sabha On Wednesday was a sedate affair, marked by boredom, yawns and rows of empty seats.

Barring a feeble protest by some Opposition memberstowards the end, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar went through the nearly hour-long ritual of reading out the budget proposals "on track" without any disruption.

The speech was dotted by an occasional applause from the treasury benches as Kumar announced the concessions, conversions, projects, lines and fares.

Trinamool Congress Leader and former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who reportedly wanted her old portfolio back, was conspicuous by her absence in the House.

Banerjee, who had vehemently opposed bifurcation of the Eastern Railway Zone, is in Kolkata and is expected to come to Delhi only next week.

However, her party colleague Sudip Bandopadhyay was present in the House and applauded when rail projects pertaining to West Bengal were announced.

This is the second consecutive budget by Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, who took charge after Banerjee stepped down when her party decided to withdraw support to the BJP-led NDA Government over the Tehelka issue.

Defence Minister and Samata Party Leader George Fernandes, who faces an Opposition boycott over Tehelka, was also not present in the House.

PTI