No hike in rail fares, says Lalu

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav today said next year's railway budget would have surprises and promised that there would not be any hike in passengers' fare and additional surcharge.

Such passenger welfare benefits were the direct result of the hard work of railway employees, Lalu said while inaugurating a Rs 6 crore train washing pithere.

The sustained good work of the staff had helped the railways earn an unexpected profit of more than Rs 20,000 crore during the last financial year.

Lalu made several announcements for expanding the Kosi belt network and said the ongoing works on the broadgauge conversion of railway lines between Saharsa and Forbesganj and Saharsa and Madhepura would be completed very soon.

"We will soon be introducing express trains between Saharsa and Patna," he added.