Your money: A look at how the Railways fare hike will pinch your pocket

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PTI: New Delhi, Jan 09 2013, 22:03 IST

will now cost Rs 1,285, following a hike of Rs 149.

A travel from Pune to Nizamuddin (Delhi) will be dearer by Rs 150, as the ticket now will cost Rs 1,311 instead of the present Rs 1,161.

Railway unions endorse fare hike, but passengers unhappy

Vijayawada (AP): Railway trade unions today welcomed the decision to hike fares of all classes from midnight of January 21, but passengers expressed dismay.

All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) have been demanding the railway ministry to increase fares to meet the deficit and also warned of a grave financial disaster in case the ministry fails to do so.

P S Charan, General Secretary, South Central Railway Mazdoor Union, affiliated to the AIRF and Venkata Subbaiah, General Secretary, South Central Railway Employees' Sangh, affiliated to the NFIR called the fare hike "a welcome step".

They said that the Railways is facing a financial crisis and is unable to meet day-to-day requirements, adding that many projects and recruitment of employees have been kept pending due to lack of funds.

Charan said that the present hike is not sufficient and the government should allocate Rs 15,000 crores to improve infrastructure and take up new projects.

He added that the government should consider that the Railways is the economy's engine of the growth and neglecting it would have an adverse effect.

On the other hand, travellers expressed unhappiness with over the decision. After being burdened with hike in prices of essential commodities, power tariff and other things, the fare

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Reader's Comments (3)| Post a Comment

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ls raghunathan | 10-Jan-2013Reply | Forward

correct thing done though belatedly.telling that to improve anything is just a joke since i am travelling from 1966 from south to to north & east to west. periodical increase is a must alongwith increase of inputs cost but telling paycommission burden is to cheat the public. bogus shouting of am admi, garibi hato are for poor mases. to my little knowledge i am proud of past two rail ministers i.e.SSri dandawate & nitish during their period rail travelling is best including catering. Mr. dandwate's catering system starting base kitchen little townskasba& runningh catering is best. Mr bansal' s satements augur good for railways & public particularly offering coolwelcome drinks which in domestic air travel drinks were stopped. will he be able to do goodfor public & railways should be seen. it is high time to stop charging food in advance in duronto trains if not in rajadhani n shatabdi. Even post payment that service is poor but our money is not wasted but in prepament for food the less said the better. i have seen in all classes in duranto how the service is provided and since i am poor i stopped traving in duranto but prefer other super express for paymnet is to be made after service. myself a retired central government servant so don't doubt that i am someone's agent. in SR old AC CC & AC II & III oldcondomned coaches are used in important trains which makes travel jerkey. in SR sleeper charges are charged during the day time for short distancve when asked it was told that shortage of racks and above all local public is paying so i should also pay. is it not exploitation? in all respect WR is best & they should maintain it.

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girish | 10-Jan-2013Reply | Forward

This is very strange that in 10 years Indian Railway could not Increase passenger fares here we have to blame UPA and then railway ministers Laluji, Mamata, and her successors needs to be held responsible for not hiking railway fare from time to time that's why this situation has put everyone on back foot. In 10 years minorities parties like lulu and mamata (Trinmool) used to oppose fare hike even PM also needs to get blamed as he was not in a position to take decisions in time. Hence forth Railway board and its chairman to be given more and more authorities than stupid political leaders like mamata and her gang.

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Allaisa | 10-Jan-2013Reply | Forward

These fares should have gone up long ago. Railways should also consider reducing the discounts available to all and sundry. For eg now you get discounts for Farmers, Industrial workers. Does not that cover 80% of the population? There are discounts for senior citizens and strangely for thalessemia patients.