Besides the ongoing 50 per cent Rail concessions for accredited journalists, the Rail Budget for 2003-04 has proposed extending this concession in Rajdhani and Shatabdi express trains where the concession would be 30 per cent.

Currently such correspondents are entitled 50 per cent concession for travel up to 30,000 kms per year in all classes or mail/express trains, barring Shatabdi and Rajdhani, if they are residing within 25 kilometres from the concerned capital city or district headquarters.

Nitish Kumar said that the kilometre limit on concessional travel and the distance restriction (of 25 kms) for their place of residence has also been removed.

Accredited press correspondents would now be granted 30 per cent concession in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains, besides the current 50 per cent concession in all classes of mail and express trains.

PTI