A fully air-conditioned 'Garib Rath' (poor's chariot), to be run on a pilot project basis initially with four pairs of services and fares about 25 per cent lower than the present AC-III tier, was proposed in the Railway Budget on Friday.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, presenting the Rail Budget, has effected no increase in passenger fares and rationalised passenger tariff structure so that the fares of AC-I and AC-II class would be 11.5 times and 6.5 times of the 2nd class respectively.
The reduction in AC-I class fares by 18 per cent and AC/II by 10 per cent in the backdrop of growing competition from low cost airlines was proposed.
