The Hindu Business Line : Lalu promises relook at superfast fares

Railway travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel", goes the words of a wise man.

This may be apt for the Indian situation, where the `aam aadmi' (common man) travels in crowded passenger trains, especially inter-city.

Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, Railway Minister, intends to change all that; he wants the `aam aadmi' to enjoy air-conditioned train travel for just Rs 600.

Addressing a large gathering at Bankura station, one of the key stations of the Adra Division of South-Eastern Railway, the Minister said that even as the Janata AC train was getting ready to hit the tracks, he was also willing to review the rise in fares of superfast trains.

Describing the Railways as an asset of the Indian people, especially the poor, he said that the Railways has been able to generate a surplus of Rs 13,000 crore in 2005-06 without raising passenger fares. The target is to take this surplus to Rs 21,000 crore in 2006-07, he added. His objective is to make the Railways world-class.

RAIL SAFETY

The Minister also said that safe travel was now of utmost priority. Accordingly, platforms are going to be converted into security zones just as in the airports. In other words, those who want to see off their near and dear ones may no longer be allowed all the way into the platform.

Recalling the recent Mumbai blasts in suburban trains which claimed many lives and injured many more, Mr Prasad said that he would introduce closed circuit TVs for platform surveillance in crowded stations, and metal detectors and sniffer dogs, besides compulsory checking of baggage.Urging passengers to stay alert at all times, he promised to beef up facilities at all stations. His motto: `No fare hike, but Railway business must grow.'

Train flagged off

The Minister flagged off the much-awaited inter-city Bankura-Ranchi-Hatia passenger from Bankura station, connecting the land of Malla kings of Bengal - famous for its terracotta and baluchari sarees - with Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, also known as the Queen of Chotanagpur.

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Lalu promises relook at superfast fares