Left parties today asked government to rollback the "anti-people" hike in fares of premier trains like Rajdhani, Shatadbi and Duronto, contending the decision has been taken at a time when people are already suffering from high inflation and low wages.
"The CPI(M) would like to caution people that this is a prelude to extending 'flexi pricing' to other trains as well in the coming days. This would in turn mean imposition of severe burdens on the vast majority of our people who are already suffering from high inflation, low wages, growing unemployment and other miseries," CPI(M) said in a statement.
It added, "The Politburo demands the immediate rollback of this anti-people measure."
Seconding CPI(M), the CPI said the dynamic surge pricing system is "unethical" and will hurt the passengers who travel on urgent necessities.
"Total commercialisation of transport (railways) is a shameful anti-people decision. Railway ticketing and cancellation has been made very expensive which is against the general public interest," CPI said as it referred to recent "abnormal increase" of petrol and diesel recently.
Passengers travelling by Rajdhani, Shatadbi and Duronto trains will have to shell out between 10 and 50 per cent more under a dynamic surge pricing system to be introduced from September 9, aimed at raking in Rs 500 crore more during the current financial year.
While 10 per cent of the seats will be sold at the normal fare in the beginning, it will go on increasing by 10 per cent with every 10 per cent of berths sold with a ceiling of 50 per cent.
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