New Delhi: Stating that it impacted poor people, new Railway Minister Mukul Roy on Thursday rolled back the fare hike in suburban and non-suburban, sleeper, air-conditioned chair car and air-conditioned three-tier classes announced by his predecessor Dinesh Trivedi in the Railway Budget.
“I intend to give relief to the already over-burdened common man by not effecting any increase in these classes,” said Roy, replying to the debate on the rail budget in the Lok Sabha.
However, he retained the fare hike for the air-conditioned first and second class by 15 paise per km and 30 paise per km, respectively, announced by Trivedi, who had proposed 10 paise per km each for air-conditioned chair car and air-conditioned three-tier.
Official sources in the Ministry said the roll back of fare hike was a setback to the reform process. The Railways will now have to forgo revenue worth Rs 4,000 crore due to Roy’s announcement, they said. (IANS)
