Kolkata, Jan 9: CPI-M leader in the Lok Sabha and former chairman of the railway standing committee Basudeb Achariya opposed the hike in train fares announced Wednesday, saying it would burden the common man.
"It is untrue that the railway has not raised the fares in the past 10 years. First, they took safety cess from passengers for five years, and later converted it to development cess. These charges added to the railway's revenue," said Achariya.
"We are opposed to the hike. It will be an extra burden on the common man," Achariya said.
The veteran parliamentarian said the railways should instead have tried to increase earnings by revising upward the freight load target.
The fare hike is set to take effect on the midnight of Jan 21.
