Kharge unlikely to tinker with train fares in interim budget

Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge is unlikely to tinker with basic passenger fares but may announce some new trains and measures to improve services in the interim railway budget to be presented in parliament Wednesday, just a few months before the general elections to be held by May.

Kharge gave finishing touches to the Interim Railway Budget 2014-15 at his office at Rail Bhawan here Tuesday.

This will be Kharge's maiden budget and the last railway budget of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during the current term of the Lok Sabha.

In the interim budget, generally no major new projects or policy matters are announced.

However, sources said the government may announce some adjustments in fuel subsidy that might lead to marginal reduction in fares.

In the railway budget for fiscal 2013-14 presented in February last year by then railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, planned outlay was pegged at Rs.63,363 core, including Rs.600 crore under the public-private-partnership route.