After failing to effect a hike in rail fares as a measure to generate internal resources, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Tuesday proposed an independent body to take decisions on rail fares without being influenced by political exigencies. He also favoured the restructuring of the Railway Board.

The Minister was addressing a conference organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Mr. Trivedi called for a national policy for the railways that would set forth a revenue model with stress on safety and customer benefit.

His emphasis on need to de-politicise the railways came amid rumours that he failed to get Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's approval for fare increase.

He, however, denied that his call for keeping politics at bay was because of any political interference. Instead, he said, his emphasis was on the growth of the railways over the next five decades.

He hoped the UPA government and Parliament would give their nod for setting up a regulatory body on fares.

As for the Railway Board, he said now it was oriented to operations; it should focus on customer comfort and safety.