Railway Budget 2007

Laloo Prasad Yadav, honorable Minister for Railways, presented his Railway Budget 2007. The fares have been reduced across the board. Railways have made a profit of Rs. 20, 000 crore against the last year’s profit of Rs.14,700 crores. According to the finance minister Mr. P. Chidambaram, this years Railway Budget is a growth oriented one.

Budget Highlights

*AC first class fare will be reduced.
*Reduction in fares by Re 1 per passenger in non-suburban tickets.
*Superfast surcharge levied on second class tickets reduced by 20 percent.
*Train to Kashmir Valley will get priority.
*500 kms of new rail lane envisaged.
*Smart rail travel cards to be introduced.
*23 train routes to be extended.
*800 new wagons to be introduced; 20,000 km of high-density network to be laid; new trains for cement transportation.
*Chair to be set up at IIM-A to study the management of Railways.
*Lalu against privatisation in Railways. Wants private partnership on his terms.
*CCTVs to be installed in sensitive stations.
*All TTEs to be provided palm tops.

source: ibnlive.com