Garib Rath rolls out

Patna, October 3:

Indians, who could not dream of travelling by air-conditioned train coaches would be able to do so from tomorrow, thanks to their railway minister Lalu Prasad.

The affordable ‘Garib Rath’ is set for its maiden journey, from Amritsar to Saharsa in Bihar. Promising 30 per cent cheaper fare for almost the same comfort in a three-tier air-conditioned coach, the new train will be able to accommodate more passengers. As against 64 berths in a normal three-tier coach, this has 75.

The railway minister has said that his goal was to end the class system in trains.

According to railway officials, more such affordable air-conditioned trains are on the anvil.

The minister, in his budget speech for 2006-07, had promised four ‘Garib Rath’ trains this year. The other trains will run between Nizamuddin in New Delhi and Mumbai, Chennai and Patna respectively.