Rail Budget may focus on amenities

New Delhi: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's 2007-08 Railway Budget is likely to be devoted to extensively improving passenger services.

He is all set to achieve the declared target of Rs 20,000-crore surplus revenue by March 31.

PTI quoted Ministry sources that Railways was devising a major strategy to win over the masses by significantly improving passenger amenities, including at stations, and asked all zonal railways to "identify and hire" consultants and architects to refurbish the design and look of stations.

Work to convert 16 major stations into world class ones would be set in motion in the 2007-08 fiscal, besides, development of surplus land surrounding the stations, they said.

"This is in addition to separating passenger handling areas from commercial areas, like in airports," the sources said, adding development of greenfield passenger terminals on similar lines could also see the light of the day.

The Railways was also actively considering a proposal to re-design the air-conditioned three-tier coaches for general trains and increase their passenger capacity.

The Ministry proposed to make changes in the design and increase the capacity of the AC 3-tier coach in general trains to 81 from the existing 64, they said, adding the effort would not only bring additional revenue but also help in cutting short the long waiting list.