Mumbai:In a big relief for lakhs of Mumbai’s suburban railway commuters, the Modi government on Tuesday announced a partial rollback of the unprecedented rail fare hike.
Besides not hiking second-class daily ticket fares up to 80km, first-class daily tickets and first- and second-class season tickets will now be increased by a flat 14.2%. The unprecedented hike announced on June 20, ranging between 100% and 187% had drawn a barrage of criticism from over 75 lakh Mumbaikars who commute by local trains.
However, the Railways have said this cannot be called a roll back of fares, but is restructuring. The move by the railways comes after protest from all from all fronts.
This restructuring is not just for Mumbai but for suburban trains across India. However, Mumbai would have been the most affected by the steep hike in fares since the locals are its lifeline.
The city local services consist of three lines the Western, Central and Harbour lines ferrying together over 70 lakh people per day.
BJP member and Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Vinod Tawde, met Rail Minister Sadananda Gowda and asked him to reconsider a steep hike in Mumbai local train fares.
Tawde had tweeted on Monday that he would meet Gowda and that he was hopeful of a ‘positive result’.
Bureau Report
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