Suresh Prabhu to present his second rail budget today, special trains with higher fares likely

New Delhi: All eyes are on Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, who is set to present his second railway budget on Thursday.

While the Union Railway Minister is likely to announce special trains with higher fares, a new catering policy with focus on e-catering could also be announced.

Apart from these, Mumbai is expected to get air conditioned suburban trains.

Prabhu is also expected to make an announcement on green stations besides addition of new bogies in Express and fast trains.

A new advertising policy to increase revenue is also likely while a reduction in freight rates is also expected.

While falling revenues and increasing demand for funding various capacity augmentation projects demand a hike in passenger fares, the government may be wary of it with elections round the corner in four states.

The cross-subsidy from freight to passenger operation has crossed Rs 30,000 crore this year while the Seventh Pay Commission burden is about Rs 32,000 crore.

Sources said the minister is likely to announce a new catering policy in his speech with special focus on e-catering.

Despite the grim economic condition, the Railway Budget is expected to increase capital expenditure to enable massive capacity creation.

Focus will be on safety upgradation, electrification and doubling to clear traffic bottlenecks, sources said.