The Railway Budget for 2005-06 to be presented in the Parliament tomorrow may leave second class and suburban fares untouched, but effect a modest hike in upper class fares with certain sops for frequent travellers, and those travelling during the lean period (July-September).In view of the fact that railway minister Lalu Prasad has demanded Rs 5,000 crore additional budgetary support to support an integrated modernisation plan, and the Planning Commission not agreeing to the demand, a gap of Rs 2,000 crore is likely to be covered up in three ways - hiking passenger fare and freight rates, market borrowings and a cess.While the Planning Commission has indicated a hike in the budgetary support to Rs 1,500 crore, the railways was poised to earn Rs 1,500 crore more than the budget target.
