Parliament has approved the Rail Budget for 2012-13. The Rajya Sabha returned the bill Friday evening after discussion. Earlier, the Lok Sabha had adopted the rail budget. Replying to the debate in both the Houses, the Railway Minister Mukul Roy announced a roll back in passenger fares in sleeper class, suburban trains, A.C. Chair Car and third A.C. The hike in passenger fares for the First A.C. and Second A.C. classes remain unchanged.

Mukul Roy said the roll back in passenger fares is aimed at giving relief to the people. He promised a revamping of the entire Railway system. Altogether one lakh people will be recruited. For this the process is on. He said, new railway tracks will be laid as announced in the budget.

All schemes envisaged for passenger amenities including safety, cleanliness and hygiene will get top priority. He said the Railways would launch an aggressive drive to mop up resources from non-conventional sources. Public-private partnership projects would be carried out on a fast-track. The vacant lands will also be fully utilized to generate additional revenue, the Minister added.