No hike in fares and freight rates in this year's rail budget; 64 new trains announced
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, February 24, 2010
Mamata Banerjee with E. Ahmad and K.H. Muniappa
Railways Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has proposed no hike in passengers fares or freight charges for 2010-11 rail budget.
However, the minister has proposed reduction in freight charges of foodgrains, fertilisers and Kerosene oil by Rs. 100 per wagon as a major to deal with the rise in inflation.
Ms Mamata Banerjee also proposed to reduce the maximum limit of service charge on e-booking of tickets to Rs 10 for sleeper class and Rs 20 for AC class. The present maximum charge is Rs 15 and Rs 40 respectively.
This is the seventh year in a row that passenger fares have not been raised.
In a major concession to Cancer patients Ms. Banerjee proposed free travel for cancer patients going for treatment in three-tier AC and sleeper class across the country.
She also proposed various concessions for Madarasa students and journalists.
While presenting this year's rail budget in Loksabha on Wednesday, Ms. Mamata Banerjee said that 101 new suburban services will be introduced in Mumbai and more services will be launched in Kolkata and Chennai.
Special tourist trains called 'Bharat Teerth' will be started on 16 routes.
Ms. Mamata Banerjee annonced 54 new trains, six long-distance non stop Duronto Express and four short-distance Duronto day trains.
A special train called 'Sanskriti Express' will run across the country to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Nobel winner Rabindranath Tagore and will also go to Bangladesh.
