No proposal for revision of train fares: Kharge

Bangalore: Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge today said there are no plans for revision of train fares for now.

“There is no such proposal before the railway ministry for a revision of train fares” he told reporters during his visit to the Rail Wheel Factory in Bangalore.

Kharge said the passenger fares will be adjusted according to the cost of the fuel every six months, but for now there is no proposal in this regard.

Talking about railway projects in Karnataka, Kharge said the Railways have proposed to set up an administrative office in Gulbarga city to augment the Solapur division of the South-Central and Central Railway.

More from Economy

Inflation likely to be a big focus area for budget 2024, say sources Explained: Will the Bank of Japan break tradition and raise interest rates?

Kharge said there was also a proposal to set up a unit at Yadgir in Karnataka for manufacturing spare parts of Linke Holfmann Busch (LHB) coaches at cost of Rs 750 crore.

“The unit will cater to the spare parts needs of Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kapurthala (Punjab) and Perambur (Tamil Nadu) coach factories,” he said.

A sum of Rs 75 crore had been earmarked for the purpose in the supplementary budget, Kharge said.

He said the state government has agreed to give 150 acres for setting up Yadgir unit and all the costs will be borne by the Railways, which expects the unit to function by February.

Kharge said Railways have acquired 3.5 acre land on which the defunct Binny Mills in Bangalore is situated.

“This will nicely fit into the Railways’ expansion plans,” he added.

Railways will develop Yelahanka as the third terminus station for Bangalore, and spend Rs 18 crore towards it.

“In the next 10 to 15 days work on it will commence,” he said. Four to five new platforms will be built at Yelahanka station.

Kharge said rail connectivity to Vaishnodevi Temple had become a reality after completion of the track-laying work. The railways have also got clearance from the Railways Safety Commissioner and efforts are on for inaugurating the project soon.

PTI