Railway minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been burning the midnight oil to prepare the Rail Budget, is understood to have accepted a majority of the proposals from state chief ministers on new trains and enhanced fund allocations for ongoing projects.
"She does not want to be seen as a Bengal-centric Minister and has made a conscious attempt to include most of the demands of various state chief ministers in her Budget," said a source in the ministry.
Insiders said she remained closeted with top railway officials for hours finalising the Budget on Tuesday and left her Rail Bhawan office only at 3.30 am on Wednesday.
The Rail Budget will be presented on February 24.
There are indications that she might leave the passenger fares untouched but rationalise the freight rates keeping essential commodities aside.She is expected to announce more non-stop Duronto trains but no more of Garib Raths, a pet project of her predecessor Lalu Prasad.
The existing Garib Rath trains, though, will continue to remain in service. There is also a proposal to construct railway lines on the pattern of national highways involving private players.
"The revenue sharing model is being worked out," the source said, adding it might figure in Banerjee's Budget speech.
Expanding rail network through public private partnership mode had came up for discussion at a pre-Budget consultation with industry leaders.
Railways intend to construct 20,000 km of tracks in the next 10 years.
In the Budget, Banerjee is also likely to announce a new wagon-leasing policy to ease out the demand-supply gap and bring in more efficiency in freight operation.
Banerjee is also believed to have approached the finance ministry for increased financial allocation for Railways' safety plans.
Image: Mamata Banerjee
