Trinamool Congress opposes fare increase in Trivedi's Railway Budget

New Delhi, Mar 14 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the unexpected increase in fares proposed in the Railway Budget presented by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in the Lok Sabha today.

"We don't support the price rise in whatever manner it may be .We totally are against the opinion," he told media here

Bandyopadhyay further said that the party had not discussed the budget provisions with Trivedi.

" Party never discussed about the budget. We never believe in policies .We communicated our sentiment to the railway minister. We are opposing because of our party leader Mamata Banerjee who has taught us to protect interests of poor people," he added.

Trivedi in his budget proposals announced a minor increase in fares so as to cause minimal impact on the common man.

He has proposed one paise per km extra for suburban and ordinary second class travel.

Similarly, increase for mail express second class will be three paisa per km; for sleeper class five paisa per km; for AC chair car, AC 3 tier and First Class by 10 paise per km; AC 2 Tier 15 paise per km; and AC I 30 paise per km.

He said the corresponding rationalization in minimum distance and fare chargeable in various classes has also been proposed.

The proposed revisions will have marginal impact on the fares. The increase in fares for suburban second class passengers traveling 35 km will be Rs.2. For non-suburban second class ordinary passenger traveling a distance of 135 km, increase will be Rs.4 only.

For second class mail or express passenger traveling a distance of 375 km, the addition to the fare will be Rs.12 and that for a 750 km journey by sleeper class on mail/express train will be Rs.40. An AC 3 tier passenger traveling a distance of 530 km will be required to pay an additional Rs.57. The increase for AC 2 tier and AC I passenger traveling over same distance will be Rs.84 and Rs.163 respectively. (ANI)