Modi govt bites first bullet, hikes rail passenger fare by 14.2%

New Delhi: In an unpopular decision, railway passenger fare was today increased by 14.2 percent in all classes while freight charge was hiked by 6.5 percent with effect from today. The decision of the Railways today restores an announcement of 16 May, the day Lok Sabha election results came, when the same hike was effected but immediately put on hold. The Railways had then issued a notification effecting hike in passenger fare by 14.2 percent across the board and freight charges by 6.5 percent from 20 May. This was followed up with an official press release. [caption id=“attachment_1580939” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Costlier travel. AFP[/caption] The 16 May fare hike decision, which had raised eyebrows as it came in the midst of Lok Sabha election results, led to a scurry of activities in Rail Bhawan on that day and the Railway Board went into a huddle to discuss its fallout. Soon after, the red-faced railway ministry had put the decision on hold, saying the matter related to the revision will be left to the next government. The then railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge came out with a statement directing the Board to leave the decision on the hike to the new government. “It is now informed that under the directions of the Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge, the decision on the proposed hike in the freight charges and passenger fares have been kept pended till further advice for placing this proposal before the new government,” the statement said. A fresh notification was issued later, stating that the “revision of fares with effect from May 20 should be pended till further advice”. PTI