The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Short distance passengers to gain from train fare cut

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Short distance passengers to gain from train fare cut

Special Correspondent

"Reduction will spur passenger traffic in suburban areas"

CHENNAI: The Railway Ministry's decision to reduce the fare by one rupee for second class in passenger and express trains from August 13 may not be significant for long distance passengers. But the reduction is substantial in the case of short-distance passengers, especially those in suburban sections.

However, the reduction is not applicable to season tickets.

Now the minimum fare in passenger trains is Rs. 4 and Rs. 17 in express trains. The reduction, according to a railway official here, will increase the passenger traffic on the suburban section, as suburban commuters constitute the majority of passenger traffic in Indian Railways. In Mumbai alone about 50 lakh travellers are commuting every day while in Chennai it is six lakh passengers. On an average there is 10 per cent increase in the passenger traffic annually.

The revised fares to various destinations from Chennai Central with the earlier fare in bracket are: Villivakkam Rs. 4 (Rs. 5), Avadi Rs. 7 (Rs. 8), Tiruvallur Rs. 10 (11), Arakkonam Rs. 14 (Rs. 15), and Gummidipundi Rs. 11 (Rs. 12).

The new fare from Tambaram to Beach is Rs. 7 (Rs. 8) and to Chengalpattu it is Rs. 8 (Rs. 9). In the Mass Rapid Transit System, the new fare for Tirumaylai from Beach is Rs. 5 and for Tiruvanmiyur it is Rs. 6.

The official said that the loss in revenue due to reduction is expected to be compensated by a possible increase in traffic.

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