Raise fares to a reasonable level instead charging passengers through backdoor!

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And “If you plan to sell a Station, why spend millions on it?”

“It is all due to lack of political will to raise fares to a reasonable level and charge passengers through backdoor!”

Station development is a vague term. It need not be done by leasing the station. Indian Railway can do some small work itself and call a station “developed” and then start charging station development fees, says experts.

A Sleeper Class passenger traveling from any such station will have to pay Rs. 25 extra for his ticket. If he travels to a developed station he pays half of that. If he travels from a developed station to another such station, he pays Rs.37.50.

No country in the world charges this type of fees. Only some airports in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai etc charge airport development fees, which is part of the air ticket automatically.

It would be much better if the Railways increase the fare directly. After all a passenger spends very little time at station even if the journey is 12 hour or longer. On the contrary, an air passenger may spend up to 2 hours in an airport.

It is all due to lack of political will to raise fares to a reasonable level and charge passengers through backdoor.

Another Expert say, “Most of the Station development is not required at all. It’s a fraud on the poor Indian public. An innovative way to loot and benefit the big corporates. If you plan to sell a Station, why spend millions on it?”

“This will be an irritant to the passengers and not increase the revenues even slightly”, a former Board Member said.

Means of “Station Development” can be seen at Secundrabad Railway Station

A vehicle is allowed to stop for only 8 minutes at station. This small time-frame to pick-up or drop their relatives is the main problem of the passengers. In case, they exceed 8-minutes time limit, they are slapped with a parking fine of Rs. 100/-. Similarly, between 16 to 30 minutes, the charge is Rs. 200/-. For 30 minutes and above, the change is directly Rs. 500/-.

1. Up to 8 mts – nil
2. From 8 mts to 15 mts – Rs. 100/-
3. From 15 mts to 30 mts – Rs. 200/-
4. From 30 mts & above – Rs. 500/- + towing charges.

Four wheeler parking charges – First 2 hours – Rs. 50/- and for subsequent every hour Rs. 25/-.

The public harassment and so many public complaints also can be seen at Habibganj and other so called developed railway stations.

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