Railway interim budget: fares, freight left unchanged
New Delhi: The Indian Railways has decided to provide hassle-free services to passengers, though it is set to end 2003-04 with a revenue shortfall of Rs 890 crore. The interim budget presented by Union Railways Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday plans to complete all pending railway projects in the next five years through a new scheme. It has also outlined several measures to increase passenger services. Passengers will soon be able to book tickets through mobile phones and frequent travellers will get free rides. The concept of e-ticketing, borrowed from low-cost airlines, will also be adopted by the railways.

New trains between Delhi and many state capitals will help the railways cater to more passengers, while 'emergency' travellers will be able to buy tickets for all trains in all classes under the Tatkal scheme, which is being integrated with the passenger reservation system (PRS). Earlier, the Tatkal scheme was available only in select trains that had a designated coach for such passengers.
Back to News Review index page