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Justifying the increase in charges on various counts announced recently, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today hinted at a further increase in surcharge on bookings and cancellations, for balanced development of the country’s largest transporter, which has “limited resources”.
“Ticket bookings are open for 120 days, and agents buy the tickets in bulk and sell them for 119 days and return the unsold ones on the last day. These charges will have to be increased gradually to tackle this menace and ensure that genuine travellers get tickets to travel,” the minister said.
Replying to a debate on the rail budget in the Lok Sabha, amid a walkout by Opposition parties, Bansal also invited investments from companies to improve amenities at railway stations.
Opposition parties — including the BJP, Left, JD(U), Shiv Sena, AIADMK, Trinamool Congress and BJD — walked out of the discussion, accusing the railway minister of focussing only on Congress-ruled states and ignoring the others.
The rail budget, presented in the House on February 26, increased reservation fee and supplementary charge for superfast trains. Freight charges were also hiked by 5.8 per cent. “There was no hike in fares and charges in the last 12 years.... There was criticism inside the House, but not outside,” Bansal claimed, adding that the bulk of rail travellers, who did not travel by air-conditioned coaches, were the “least affected” by the increase.
Bansal said the steps of price increases were taken to maintain the rolling stock and generate revenue, in line with the recommendations of the (Anil) Kakodkar and (Sam) Pitroda committees and the Planning Commission.
On alleged discrimination against non-Congress-ruled states, he said, “We cannot indulge in financial profligacy....”
