Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain has asserted that Railways will continue to function as a department run commercial undertaking. <br/><br/>In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Mr Gohain said a separate statement of budget estimates and demand for grant will be created for the Railways after the merger of Railway Budget with the Union Budget from the fiscal 2017-18. <br/><br/>He said a committee with representatives from Finance and Railway ministries examined the issues involved and worked out the procedural details.<br/><br/>A single Appropriation Bill, including the estimates of Railways, will be prepared and presented by Ministry of Finance to Parliament and all legislative work connected therewith will be handled by Ministry of Finance. <br/><br/>The merger of Railway Budget with General Budget is based on the recommendations of the committee headed by NITI Ayog Member Bibek Debroy . The Minister said the presentation of a unified budget will help present a holistic picture of the financial position of the government and merger of Rail Budget with Union Budget would facilitate multi-modal transport planning between highways, railways and inland waterways.