The Hindu Business Line : `Rlys has to be transparent in increasing passenger fares'

No transparency
Railways did not declare the hikes in Budget itself.
No qualitative and quantitative difference in passenger amenities being offered in trains upgraded to superfast status.

New Delhi , May 25

Railways has been pulled up by a Parliamentary Committee for increasing passenger fares in a "non-transparent" manner.

Referring to the recent increase in passenger fares for some segments through upgrading trains to `superfast' status, withdrawal of telescopic charges for journeys that include two different trains and levying service charges on Shatabdi and Rajdhani tickets, the committee said these fare increases were not declared in a transparent way. It asked Railways to "refrain from such deceptive practices".

In the Railway Budget, the Railways had announced that it would convert 200 mail and express trains into superfast trains.

However, it did not point out that the passengers travelling in such trains are charged additional Rs 30 (for AC classes) and Rs 20 (sleeper class) as "superfast charges". The average speed of superfast trains is around 55 km per hour where as that of mail/express trains is between 45-50 km per hour. The Standing Committee on Railways noted that there is no qualitative and quantitative difference in passenger amenities being offered.

Moreover, it pointed out that thought the fares have not been increased in trains while converting them into superfast trains, Railways has been levying additional charges on rail commuters even though the trains run at lower speed that that of superfast trains as is evident from the time-table.

The committee disapproved of such policy, putting additional burden on rail commuters without declaring such hikes in the Budget itself in a transparent way, stated the Standing Committee report.

Restore telescopic benefit

With the withdrawal of telescopic benefit from the onboard commuters who catch connecting train from station(s) enroute, passengers have to pay more if they use more than one train for reaching their destination.

The benefit withdrawal was not announced in the Budget, but was implemented from April 1, which is when other Rail Budget announcements came into force. Terming this withdrawal as unhealthy and unwarranted practice, it "desired" that the telescopic benefit be restored.

The report stated that the committee deprecates the policy of the Railways of levying additional charges just after the passing of the Rail Budget without taking the approval of Parliament."