Is Rail Budget Passenger Friendly ?

Debi Mukherjee (India, 08/04/06)

      A lot of "Kudos" has been given to the current year "Rail Budget"! There has been no raise in passenger fares. On the contrary, concessions have been accorded to the passengers travelling in higher classes. Little did we realise there is a hidden escalation in cost for the passengers undertaking long distance journey by train. The following will illustrate the factual position :

1.      The provision for break journey by a passenger holding a journey ticket for more than 500 kms at any intermediate station once for two days at any station enroute for two days has been withdrawn. This means a passenger has to collect two separate tickets for any halt in an intermediate station even if the journey between the boarding station and embarking station is more than 500 kms. This has resulted in escalation in fare. Worst affected will be denizens of Bhopal travelling to Kolkata. Despite repeated requests no appropriate direct train has been provided between Bhopal and Kolkata. Indore Howrah Shipra Express starts from Indore at 22.05 P.M. (10.05 PM) and reaches Bhopal at 03.10 A.M. Many a times this train is late.

      Bhopalites catching this train have to undertake journey from residence to the station at an odd hour (middle of the night). Many a times the train being late, the passengers have no other alternative but to keep awake in the station in the midst of bite by mosquitoes. Many of the passengers therefore favour to undertake the journey either via Bilaspur or Raipur by travelling by Amarkantak Express starting from Bhopal and subsequently undertaking the journey either by Bombay Mail or by appropriate Express trains from Bilaspur or Raipur. So far this has been possible by procuring a single journey ticket from Bhopal to Howrah with provision for halt at Bilaspur or Raipur availing of the facility of break journey. From April 2006 onwards the passenger has to get two tickets for the same mode of journey involving escalation in cost.

2.       Many a times passengers prefer to get return tickets. In this case also there has been escalation in cost without any rationale. For example a three tier sleeper class ticket for a senior citizen travelling from Habibganj to Hazarat Nizamuddin costs Rs 226.00 whereas the return ticket collected from the same station at the same time from Hazarat Nizamuddin to Habibganj covering the same distance is valued at Rs. 236.00 (Rs. 10.00 extra).  The rational behind this could hardly be explained with any logic. The fares for the same journey in AC 2 tier for a senior citizen are Rs 805.00 and 820.00 (Rs. 15 extra) respectively.

Does Rail Budget really deserve the accolade for serving the interest of passengers?