New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government seemed to have bend to ally pressure over the railway fair hike. In relief to the suburban train commuters, there will be no change in fares u pto 80 kms. Suburban trains run in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
There will be a 10% fare hike for second class and the 1st class AC season ticket. In addition, the government will also levy a 4.2% fuel adjustment charge.
The announcement comes after Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda met with Railway Board members and officers of the rates directorate on Tuesday.
BJP said it cannot be called a rollback but restructuring of fares.
The move was taken in view of the Maharashtra Assembly elections which are due in the year-end. The government was under pressure from its own allies and ministers to rollback fare hike.
The Modi government on Friday announced a steep hike in the railway passenger fare by 14.2% in all classes and freight by 6.5%. It increased prices effective from June 25. It is the first steep hike in Railway fares in many years.
The local trains are the lifeline for the over 2 crore people of the Mumbai metropolitan region. The city local services consist of three lines — the Western, Central and Harbour lines, ferrying together over 70 lakh people per day.
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