Railway Minister, Mamata Banerjee, will be presenting a ‘pro-people’ budget in Parliament on Friday. There are expectations of upgrading railway amenities and food served in trains.

"It will be a pro-people budget, a simple budget, people's budget," Banerjee said.

According to sources, the budget would reflect Mamata's visualisation for the Railways in the years to come and means of creating resources for important projects. Her top agenda would be completing Kashmir rail link project and putting the dedicated freight corridor project on fast track.

She has said that railways should always have a humanitarian touch to it. She is expected to revise passenger fares and waive superfast charges that have received some criticism. She might also declare changes in the Tatkal scheme to make it friendlier to passengers. Integrated security system at important stations to beef up security is also expected to be mentioned. Trains like Garib Raths are expected to be announced.

Rail overbridges and underbridges at unmanned level crossings to prevent accidents may be looked into.

The sources said Mamata would be controlled to avoid a deficit budget especially when the Sixth Pay Commission has to be fulfilled for which Railways have to eke out Rs 14,000 crore for implementing it.

She said that she only got a fortnight to work on it, as the officials were busy preparing it. She said that the budget is being prepared in line with the present situation of railways.