Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi proposed a nominal hike in passenger fares in the rail budget presented by him in the Parliament for the year 2012-13 today.

Proposing to hike the fare by 5 paisa per KM in sleeper class and the express train fare by 3 paisa per KM, Trivedi said the platform tickets would cost Rs 5 instead of the present Rs.3.

He said this was first time the train fares were proposed to be increased nominally after 9 years. The minister also proposed to change the waiting list system for reservations outlining that an alternate train accommodation system to provide reservation for the wait listed passengers would be introduced in the new financial year.

The railway minister offered 50 per cent concession in fare in AC classes to anemia and sickle cell disease patients and proposed to introduce green toilet system in 2,500 coaches in the next one year. (J)