'Surge pricing is looting the user': Indian Railways' latest move slammed on Twitter

Passengers travelling by Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains will have to shell out between 10 and 50 percent more under a dynamic surge pricing system to be introduced from 9 September, aimed at raking in Rs 500 crore more during the current financial year. [caption id=“attachment_2292368” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] The flexi-fare system will be introduced on an experimental basis in II AC, III AC, Chair Car in the three trains, besides sleeper class in Duronto trains. First AC and Executive Class have been kept out of the new system of the already prevailing high tariffs. The passenger revenue target for the current fiscal is Rs 51,000 crore as against Rs 45,000 crore in the last fiscal, an increase of Rs 6000 cr for 2016-17. Needless to say, as soon as the official announcement was made, the government received a massive backlash from the Opposition. The Congress came down heavily on the Narendra Modi government, dubbing the surge pricing as “anti-people” and an “illegal” move aimed at “stealing” money from public pockets. Many people took to social media to express their discontent with the government’s latest move.

So surge pricing for Public sector Railways is ok but for private sector Uber is not?

— Veena (@veenavenugopal) September 8, 2016

Already dealing with the high prices of essential commodities, Railway Surge pricing will hurt middle class heavily. #SurgePricing

— Raj Babbar (@RajBabbar23) September 8, 2016

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Surge pricing for trains also needs 1. Private train services as competition; 2. Unbundling premium & non-premium trains into separate corps

— Ashok Malik (@MalikAshok) September 8, 2016

Surge pricing in train travel exploits citizens' helplessness. Similar step by taxi aggregators, Uber and Ola, was frowned upon.

— Ashok Khemka (@AshokKhemka_IAS) September 8, 2016

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Demand-supply argument valid in case of competition. Indian Railways is monopoly. Imagine surge pricing in other monopolies or basic needs.

— Ashok Khemka (@AshokKhemka_IAS) September 8, 2016

Number of people travelling by train after recent surge in railway ticket price.(2016) pic.twitter.com/16bjr2t3vE

— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) September 7, 2016

Surge pricing will kill the railways. Already the fares are quite high. Many people have switched to flights because of that.

— Arv Vaish (@vaish52) September 7, 2016

Now they don't need a separate budget to increase the fares in railways. They'll do it by surge pricing itself. Whatay @sureshpprabhu !!👍

— Abhijeet (@abhic4ever) September 7, 2016

USP of Indian Railways is its low fares. Surge pricing will cause high revenue passengers to abandon it. @sureshpprabhu please reconsider.

— vadakkus (@vadakkus) September 7, 2016

Shameful for railways to introduce surge pricing for Shatabdi/Rajdhani etc given the shabby condition of many trains. Shabby is a mild word.

— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) September 7, 2016

Before introducing dynamic pricing of Rajdhani, Shatabdi,&Duronto,Govt should have provided more dynamism to Railways, in terms of amneties?

— Uma Kant Singh (@umakantsingh_IN) September 7, 2016

Surge pricing for trains also needs 1. Private train services as competition; 2. Unbundling premium & non-premium trains into separate corps

— Ashok Malik (@MalikAshok) September 8, 2016

There are total 42 Rajdhani, 46 Shatabdi and 54 Duronto trains and the Railways expect to garner about Rs 500 crore from the new fare structure in these trains. With inputs from agencies