The Congress-led UDF government in Kerala has asked the Centre to reconsider the railway fare hike effected in the Railway Budget for FY13.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said in the Assembly today that the train fare hike would affect the people of the state even though the railways had raised the fare charges in an "unavoidable circumstance".
However, he said he would again request Centre to withdraw the fare hike and expected that there would be a rollback of increase in fare in second class-sleeper class category.
Chandy was replying to a notice seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the hardship caused to people following hike in train fare moved by CPI-M-led LDF Opposition.
Stating that Kerala did not get the expected projects in the railway budget, Chandy said there was no basis for the opposition charge that Kerala had been totally neglected in the budget.
One has to look into the fact that the railways, passing through a period of recession, had not announced several development projects and that the recession had its reflection on Kerala's share also, he said.
Seeking leave for an adjournment motion, CPI-M Deputy leader in the House, Kodiyeri Balakrisnan, alleged that Centre ignored Kerala in its railway budget by not sanctioning new projects and new train services sought by the state.
In response to Kerala's demand for 23 new trains and extension of 39 services, only one new train and extension of two train services had been provided. "Similar is the case of other railway projects," he said.
Balakrishnan also flayed Chandy for justifying the fare hike and said Chandy was defending the proposals of the railway minister which was rejected by the leader of the party to which he belonged.
TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself had not accepted the proposals and the fare hike also cost Dinesh Trivedi his position, Balakrishnan pointed out.
