The Hindu Business Line : No hike in fares; host of benefits to passengers

“For the remaining part of the year, the Budget proposes a reduction of 2 pc in the basic fare in AC 2-Tier and 3.5 pc in AC first class fares of popular mail and express trains.”

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New Delhi, Feb. 26

The Railway Budget presented by the Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, on Tuesday has proposed no increase in passenger fares during 2008-09. On the other hand, the Budget has proposed a host of benefits to the passengers, including a discount of Re 1 to each passenger in non-suburban second class (ordinary, mail and express) for fares up to Rs 50 and a five per cent discount in these categories for fares beyond Rs 50.

The Minister also announced a 7 per cent reduction for travel in first air-conditioned class and 4 per cent reduction in second class air-conditioned class. These discounts will, however, only be available for travel during three months — February, March and August, which are considered as the lean season by the Railways.

For the remaining part of the year, the Budget proposes a reduction of 2 per cent in the basic fare in AC 2-Tier and 3.5 per cent in AC first class fares of popular mail and express trains, said Mr V.N. Mathur, Member Traffic, Railway Board.

A separate announcement will be made soon to identify popular trains.

The implementation of the proposal will see ticket prices in AC first class fall by Rs 53 for distances of up to 100 km to Rs 295 for distances up to 3,500 km, while in AC 2-Tier the reduction will vary from Rs 17 per passenger for distances of up to 100 km to Rs 87 for distances up to 3,500 km.

High capacity coaches

In addition, it is proposed to enhance the discounts available under the variable fare scheme for newly designed higher capacity coaches that have 81-84 seats per carriage.

The Budget proposes to enhance the discount for sleeper class on the newly designed higher capacity coaches to 6 per cent from the current 4 per cent and to 5 per cent in AC III (popular) from the existing 4 per cent.

Besides, on the AC III fares it is proposed to increase the discount to 5 per cent from 4 per cent currently available during the busy season and to 10 per cent from the current 8 per cent during the lean season.

For an AC chair car traveller in the high capacity coaches, the Budget proposes to provide a busy season discount of 5 per cent against 4 per cent currently available and 10 per cent during the lean season instead of 8 per cent.

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