Having presented five consecutive railways budgets between 2004- 2008 without “directly” raising fares — in fact, making conditional fare-cuts here and there — Yadav looks all set to keep his date with history when he rises to present the interim rail budget in Lok Sabha on February 13. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is expected to announce more sops for train travellers when he presents the interim railway budget in Parliament tomorrow.

Prasad, who desisted from carrying out any upward hike in the passenger fares despite increase in global prices of crude oil in the past five years of UPA rule, may this time announce some pro-people schemes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
the minister might just go for some token reduction of fares in certain classes. In the past, railways has gone in for reduction of Re 1 in fares of second class in non-suburban passenger trains. A similar move may well be on the cards this year.

Speculation is rife that Lalu might slash passengers fares in certain sector while seeking budgetary grant for April-July period.

Railways have recorded an annual growth of 14 per cent in overall traffic earnings during the UPA regime.

Besides highlighting Ministry’s achievements in the last five years, the interim budget is likely to have proposals for introduction of more trains including Garib Raths.