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Railway hikes is biting the bullet: Bedi

by IBNS 21 Jun 2014, 10:21 am

New Delhi, June 21 (IBNS) Former IPS officer and social activist Kiran Bedi has said the rail fare hike is biting the bullet.

"Railway hikes is biting th bullet.Only strong government is in a position to take unpopular decisions.Weak ones soft pedal to just pass time," tweeted Bedi.

Accusing the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for leaving the government treasury bankrupt, Bediposted on micro-blogging site Twitter: "Last govt stayed on till their last breath.In a way milked it to the last drop!Leaving behind big holes due to policy paralysis and scams."

"Time for soft options & escapism are over.Time for tough and hard decisions is compelling, now with a firm faith that all r well considered," she said.

"Railway fares as announced by NDA was being notified by UPA on May 16th but withheld to be done by new Govt! So how does it oppose now?" she asked.

"Why did UPA soft pedal passenger+freight fares last 10 years and decide on steep rise by the time they were getting defeated and leaving?" asked Bedi.

She said the railways suffered for the past many years.

"Railways portfolio suffered last many years.Barring exceptions (Nitish Kumar) by & large had weak/absentee leadership! Hence huge suffering," she said.

Bedi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is forced to take "painful" decisions for India's better future.

"BJP must tell the people what they have inherited and if they do not take painful decisions there may be serious consequences in long term," she tweeted.

"How long will the country keep robbing Peter to pay Paul? Or in Hindi rob Ram Lal to pay Shyam Lal? Confront reality and tell people now!" she said.

"AFTER A TEN YEAR PAUSE!---hikes in railway fares! This happens when we have elected Governments but NOT GOVERNANCE! " she added.

She further posted: "Hikes in railway fares be stiffly followed by overhauling of internal ADM. All areas of leakages b stemmed!Quality+Safety+Dynamism b Mantras."

With not even a month in office, Narendra Modi government on Friday increased Railway fares with the the passenger fare being hiked by 14.2 percent.

 The freight rates have been hiked by 6.5 percent.

New fares will be effective from June 25.

This is the first steep hike in Railway fares in many years.

In its revised rates, the  Ministry of Railways state that there is withdrawal of short lead concession in charging of freight for all traffic booked upto 100 kms. Minimum distance for charge has been increased from existing 100 kms to 125 kms.

 The number of Low Rated Classes have been reduced from 4 to 3. Certain concessions in case of some of these commodities has also been withdrawn, the Ministry said.

In case of passenger fares, the Ministry has hiked a flat 10 percent in all classes.

There will be no increase upto minimum distance for charge.

In addition there will be an increase of 4.2 percent in fares on account of FAC which is due from April 2014.

"Second Class Monthly Season Ticket (MST) fares of Suburban and Non-suburban shall be charged on the basis of 30 single journeys instead of approximately 15 single journeys.  Fares of First Class Monthly Season Tickets will be charged @ 4 times the Second Class Monthly Season Tickets (MST) Fares as is done presently.  Revised fare shall also be applicable as per the existing method of computation on Quarterly Season Tickets (QST), Half Yearly Season Tickets (HST) and Yearly Season Tickets (YST), etc.  these revisions have been shown in the Season Ticket Fare Tables," the Ministry said.

There has been no change in charges for reservation fee, superfast surcharge.  Such charges, wherever applicable, will continue to be levied additionally as per existing instructions.

Service tax will also continue to be levied as applicable as per instructions issued in this regard.