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Modi to reconsider fare hike for Mumbai trains

by IBNS 24 Jun 2014, 12:34 am

Mumbai/New Delhi, June 24 (IBNS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government might reconsider the rail fare hike for Mumbai suburban trains, said reports on Tuesday.

"Sources say while there can be no rollback of the hike, but the hike could be staggered for suburban trains. The impact of the 14.2 per cent hike led to complete withdrawal of subsidies in suburban travel, say sources, reported CN-IBN.

Pertinently, Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from Maharashtra will meet Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi over the issue on Tuesday.

"Hoping for the positive response from Union Govt on #Mumbai #RailFareHike in the interest of 65 Lakh commuters," tweeted Maharashtra BJP MLA Vinod Tawde.

"Proposed #RailFareHike is too taxing for Mumbaikars. We hv requested Rajnath Singhji to reconsider d proposal," he has posted earlier on Twitter.

With not even a month in office, Modi's 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.