Lalu lowers fares, freight rates in Rail Budget

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today presented a passenger-friendly budget -- the fourth in a series -- announcing lowering of train fares and slashing by five per cent freight for diesel and petrol, while taking care not to hike freight rates acroos-the-board.

The bonanza for travellers spanned all categories of trains, differential discounts in airconditioned class during busy and lean seasons, and introduction of eight new 'Garib Raths' as well as 32 new trains.

Playing on the volume game, the charismatic Lalu Prasad did a trick of sorts and announced that the current fiscal will end with a profit of Rs 20,000 crore as against Rs 13,000 crore last year, an increase of nearly 14 per cent.

Mr Prasad announced reduction by Re 1 in second class fares in non-suburban ordinary passenger and non-super fast mail and express trains.

AC first class fares have been brought down by three per cent in busy season and six per cent in lean season.There will be a two per cent reduction in busy season and four per cent in lean season for AC two-tier fares.

What was unprecedented in the Railway Minister's presentation of the budget in the Lok Sabha was unceasing disruption of the proceedings by the opposition NDA, which sought a statement from the government on the detention of Ottavio Quattrocchi, the prime suspect in the Bofors pay-offs scam, in Argentina.

Mr Prasad, who remained unruffled for most part of his hour-long speech, had to face shrill protests and in the end just ran through his proposals, mindful of the fact that nothing was audible in the din. In recent memory, a rail budget had never been presented amidst such boisterous scenes.

The minister later took on his opponents, accusing them of preventing the people from listening what was a matter of great import to them -- the proposals of his budget.

Dishing out sops for the passengers, Mr Prasad said the superfast charge on second class tickets would be slashed by 20 per cent from Rs 10 to Rs eight.

The budget announced introduction of eight 'Garib Rath' (air-conditioned travel at affordable costs) in keeping with the policy of linking all state capitals.

Much to the comfort of passengers, 800 more coaches are to be added to the existing passenger trains while 23 trains would be extended.

Mr Prasad, who has now become internationally known for scripting the incredible turnaround of Indian Railways, also announced reduction in fares for all classes of high capacity new design reserved coaches.

There will be a four per cent reduction in busy season and eight per cent in lean season in trains of this kind for AC three-tier and AC chair car.

The sleeper class fare for this category has been cut down by four per cent in all seasons.

The budget was lauded by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram who described it as ''growth-oriented'' and ''anti-inflationary''.

It was also hailed by industry and business which marveled at Mr Prasad's trick of generating a surplus without hiking passenger fare and freight rates.

They felt that the Public Private partnership (PPP) model would go a long way in forging a grand alliance to take the Railways to new heights. The railways operate like a private enterprise, they said.

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