Rail fares hiked across the board
14 Mar 2012
Leaving the sensitive announcement to the end of his railway budget presentation, union minister Dinesh Trivedi today hiked passenger fares across the board for the first time in nine years.
Passenger fares would be hiked across all classes from between 2 paise and 30 paise per kilometre depending on the type of train and class of travel, he said.
Trivedi said the increase would be 2 paise per km for suburban trains; 3 paise per km for mail trains.
Fares have been raised by 5p per km for express trains, 10p per km for a/c chair car travel, 10 paise per km for a/c 3-tier, 15 paise per km for a/c 2-tier and 30 paise per km for a/c 1st class. Platform tickets would now cost Rs 5.
Trivedi said the attempt was to round off fares to eliminate the need for change. He called the hikes nominal and said there would be no steep increase in passenger fares.
The Railway budget also proposes a corresponding rationalisation in minimum distance and fare chargeable in various classes.
Under the revised rates, the increase in fares for suburban second class passengers travelling 35 km will be only Rs2.
