Railway panel for one-time hike of 25% in fares

A committee on rail modernisation chaired by advisor to the Prime Minister, Sam Pitroda has given the recommendation of linking all Railway fares to inflation and go for one time hike of 25 percent.

As per the reports of a news paper, the move aims to breathe a new leash life to the ailing Indian Railways and raise around Rs 60,000 crore by next year.

Meeting ahead of the crucial Railway Budget of 2012-13, the committee has recommended that the raised fund of Rs 60,000 crore could be used to part-fund a modernisation programme of Rs 9,13000 crore spreading over next 5 years .

In its presentation to the Planning Commission, the Pitroda chaired panel has mentioned that a 25 percent hike in the passenger fares can fetch around Rs 37,500 crore.

Meanwhile, linking all kind of Railway fares including the freight charges to that of the inflation can fetch Rs 25,000 crore.

Reportedly, the Railways Minster Dinesh Trivedi and his party leader Mamata Banerjee are at loggerheads over the issue of raising passenger fares.

ID proof mandatory for AC passengers in trains

In a bid to check the involvement of touts in rail ticket booking, the Railway Ministry on Wednesday made it mandatory for all passengers travelling in any air-conditioned (AC) class to carry an identity proof.

As part of the measure to be implemented beginning February 15 in all trains across the country, the passengers would have to carry an identity card. The ministry has allowed passengers to carry an identity proof of their choice, ranging from Voter’s Identity card, Driver’s Licence to Pan Card.

The move would be implemented ahead of Railways’ peak season that normally begins around February 15.

The Railway Ministry believes the move would help curb touts, black marketing of tickets, and also impersonation. It has been seen that many a times, a different set of people travel on the tickets booked in another person’s name.

In most of these cases, such tickets are booked by touts.