Railway to increase passenger fare, freight tariff by 2 percent
New Delhi: Railways have decided to increase passenger fare and freight tariff by about 2 percent from next week to offset the financial burden arising out of increased input cost.
Railways is expected to mop up about Rs 1250 crore from the hike in the last six months of the current fiscal, sources in the Ministry said. The suburban and non-suburban fares would, however, remain untouched.
The decision on the fresh round of hike has been taken under the system of fuel adjustment component (FAC). Railways have taken into account the additional burden of 7.3 percent increase in diesel price and about 15 percent in electricity hike.
While the fare of AC and sleeper class will be increased by about 2 percent, the freight rate will go up by 1.7 percent, as per the decision.
Railways has imposed 15 percent levy as the busy season charge on all commodities from October 1 and the FAC-linked revision is likely to take effect from October 10.
According to the budget proposal, the fuel component is segregated from tariff as FAC and the railways is expected to revise the passenger and freight tariff after every six months taking into account the input cost and the prevailing market condition.
