Rail budget 2015-16: No hike in passenger fares

Among railway minster Suresh Prabhu's first announcements while presenting the railway budget to parliament today was that there would be no increase in passenger fares for the fiscal 2015-16.

This belied earlier predictions by pundits that the minister would propose a 4-5 per cent 'safety surcharge' on passenger tickets.

"There will be no hike in railway passenger fares. We will focus on improving passenger amenities," the minister said - though it is not quite clear how he will balance the two apparently contradictory targets, despite his push for increased private investments in the railways.