Rail Concession to AIDS patients - From April 1

As a noble gesture towards AIDS patients, Railways will provide 50 per cent concession to them in second class passenger fares to nominated ART centres for treatment. "Railways has decided to grant 50 per cent concession in train fares to AIDS patients for treatment at nominated Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres," a senior railway official said.

The concession will be applicable only in second class. Station masters are authorised to grant concession to the patients at the stations, the official said, adding they have to produce the certificate in prescribed form issued by officer-in-charge of the concerned ART centre where the patient is to be treated or has been treated. The concession can be availed for return journey after the treatment at nominated ART centres.

However, the concession will not be applicable in Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Sadharan and Garib Rath trains. The official also said the railways plans to launch 'Mother-Child Health Express' in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. "As per the plan, the train with seven coaches would run on a pilot basis for providing medical facilities to mother and child. The train would have facilities like delivery operation room and child health centre," said the official. Railways had on December one last launched the Red Ribbon express in collaboration with National Aids Control Organisation.

Lalu Prasad Yadav presents railway budget in parliament (Updates)

Union Railway Minister lalu Prasad Yadav presented the railway budget for the year 2008-09 in parliament house today ie 26/2/2008 dressed in traditional Lalu style attire he looked cool and composed in his own way. He made common man happy once again as the railway budget consisted of no price hikes in any of the fares rather there were even more trains proposed this year.

It can be noted down that since Lalu Prasad became Railway minister there has been complete turn around in the fortunes of indian railways as once railways were a burden on government as it was running in huge losses from last 5-6 decades but after Lalu taking oath as the railway minister some 3 years back it has been in profit since then and that too in tune of INR 20000 crores which is a whopping amount atlast Lalu can be proud of his great achievement.

In the railway budget for year 2008-09 sops were given for students, senior citizens and common man as there was no rise in the fares and other taxes of the railways. However their is still enough slack in Indian railways that can be exploited to increase revenue without increasing the fares and taxes. Cash surplus projections of the railway budget 2008-09 stand at Rs 21578 crores. Hats off to Mr Lalu.!