The Railway Budget for 2008-09, was presented in Parliament on Tuesday by Raliway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav amid protests from members of Opposititon and Left parties.

 

In what seemed to be a people friendly budget, the Minister cut fares across the board and spared the frieght traffic from any hike.

 

The second class fares for journeys over 50km were cut by by 5% and sleeper fares also down by 5%. A 7% fare reduction for AC first class, 4% fares cut for AC-II tiers and 2% fares cut for AC-III tires were announced. Also a reduction of one rupee for every non suburban second class fares upto Rs 50 was given.

Other highlights include 10 new garib raths( AC with reduced fares), 50% reduction for senior citizens and AIDS patients, 53 new trains, smartcard facility fir ticketing system, free season tickets to girls uptil graduation, new rail coach factory for Kerala and much more.