Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, making a huge populist move, announced a fare cut in sleeper class by 5 per cent. The AC-I fare has been slashed by 7 per cent, however, AC-II and AC-III fares have been cut by 4 and 3 per cent respectively. Freight rates on fly ash has been reduced by 14 per cent and freight rates for petrol, diesel has been cut by 5 per cent. Freight rates for North-Eastern states has been slashes by 6 per cent.
