New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday criticised the Railway Budget 2008, terming it "disappointing" and noting that the announcements made for reduction in fares were a just an "eyewash".

"The Railway Budget presented by Lalu Prasad is disappointing. Members from various states made noise and walked out, which shows that the hopes of all the states turned into disappointment," BJP spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters here.

"The Congress members kept sitting in the House in compulsion. They are also very disappointed with the Budget and wanted to raise their voice against it," he said, adding the uproar in Lok Sabha as the Railway Minister presented the Budget was unparalleled.

Calling the reduction in fares an "eyewash", Malhotra claimed that the expenses for the passengers would go up through increase in the charges for food, reservation, cancellation and other amenities.

"People are being cheated. Passenger trains are being redesignated as superfast trains. The coaches would remain the same but the fares would go up," he said.

"This is `jaadu-tona' (magic trick). People cannot see, but they will have to pay more now. Never before has so much burden been put on the people," Malhotra said.