New Delhi: The Rail Budget 2012 will be presented by Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in Parliament on Wednesday and a hike in the passenger fare is likely to be announced. According to sources, railway can impose a safety cess, but will not call it fare hike.
There is also a possibility that an additional amount, called the Union Government Development Surcharge, may be levied.
Sources also indicated that fewer new trains would be announced in the Union Railway Budget 2012.
Meanwhile, a new premium scheme on reservation for a confirmed berth is also likely to be announced. The emphasis this time is on modernisation, infrastructural overhaul and the dedicated freight corridor.
Recommendations of Sam Pitroda report and Kakodkar report may also be part of the budget document.
Meanwhile, Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal told CNN-IBN that a fare hike could only bolster the finances to a limited extent while "the urgent need is to consolidate rather than expand."
He further said that the railway was a social responsibility and it didn’t earn any revenue.
Talking about fare hike, he said, "Even if you have a fare hike, the question is how much can you do? Poorest poor have certain affordability. Even if you hike it, it can bolster the revenue up to a certain extent. The government has a duty to them."
Comments
0 comment