Lalu's fare cut candy not so sweet for passengers

Lalu Yadav presented his fifth Railway Budget in his trademark style on Tuesday with an eye on the aam aadmi and the polls due next year. He announced reduction of fares in almost all classes, but has it really come as a boon for the travellers? A closer look at the fine print of the Rail Budget proposals show the fare cut announced by Lalu will be applicable only during the off-peak season, which means the benefit is available for just three months in a year. For the rest of the year, the fare cut will be only half the proposed reduction.