‘Railway fare hike is a sprinkle of salt in the wound’ – 2024-05-04 03:31:42

by times news cr

2024-05-04 03:31:42

The Revolutionary Workers’ Party termed the decision to withdraw concessional facilities from May 4 and hike fares on 15 routes as a ‘new torture on the stubborn and the people’. The party condemned and protested this decision.

In a statement on Thursday (May 2), General Secretary of the party Saiful Haque said that this decision to increase railway fares will bring new hardships to the lives of the low-income common people at a time when the common people of the country are sighing over the unbearable and unbridled price hike. It will be like rubbing salt on a cut wound. A few days ago, due to the increase in the price of electricity, the prices of all things have increased yet again. Now the price of other services is increasing.

He said that till now 20 to 30 percent concession (discount) was given for traveling more than 100 km in railway journey. Due to the withdrawal of this concession facility, the rail fare will increase by 20 percent and 30 percent in the first class on Sulabh, Shobhan, Shobhan chairs on the main 15 routes. It is argued that this will increase revenue by Rs 300 crore.

Saiful Haque said, where hundreds and thousands of crores of rupees of corruption is going on in the railway mega projects, there is no reason to impose extra fare on the common people of the country for only 300 crores of rupees. By similar logic, even after fare hikes in 2012 and 2016 earlier, the losses in Railways did not come down.

He mentioned that since 2009 till now 72000 crores of debt has been spent for various railway development projects but the losses have not reduced. Theft, corruption, looting, wastage and mismanagement in the railways have crippled the railways as a loss-making sector. Why should people take responsibility for these inactions?

Black cats are roaming in the entire railway management, Saiful Haque said, complaining that without taking action against them and changing the overall management of the railways, this major public transport of the country cannot be made profitable.

Saiful Haque, general secretary of Biplabhi Workers Party urged the government to withdraw from this ‘anti-people’ move.

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