Lalu hints at popular Rail Budget

PLEASE-ALL BUDGET? Lalu says his Rail Budget will take care of the interests of all sections of customers and safety issues.

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New Delhi: On the eve of the Rail Budget 2007, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Sunday said people can expect a "good Railway Budget" as the interests of all sections of customers as well as the safety and security issues were kept in mind while preparing it.

The Railway Minister didn't say anything specifically, but dropped enough hints that there aren't too many unpopular measures like passenger fare hike in the Budget. "We have kept the interests of common men (in mind) in the earlier budget too," he said.

"I will not say anything whether the passenger and freight fares are going to be increased," Lalu said while interacting with reporters after the customary photo-session before the Rail Budget's presentation on Monday.

"People can hope for a good budget," he said, adding that the interests of "all sections and safety and security issues were kept in mind while preparing the budget."

"I have tried to address the interests of all sections of people. But if there are any shortcomings, people should tell me, I will try to remove them in future," he said.

Asked whether freight charges would be reduced in view of the growing prices of essential commodities, the Railway Minister said: "The government has already taken steps in this regard. Wait till Monday to see what we are going to do."

He noted that the people have lots of expectations from the Railway Budget as trains carry millions of passengers and essential commodities like minerals, cement, steel and fertilisers from one corner of the country to another.