The Hindu : New Delhi News : Rail fare relief welcomed, better services demanded

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Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
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New Delhi

Rail fare relief welcomed, better services demanded

Staff Reporter

‘If services are good, passengers would not mind paying more’

‘Even though the fares would be reduced, other user charges would increase’
Railway Minister accused of catering to only his constituency by providing more trains

NEW DELHI: Though people in the Capital have generally welcomed the reduction in passenger fares for various classes by Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, they would have been happier if the Railways improved their services and ensured safety and security of passengers.

“If the services are good and passengers are assured of their safety, they would not mind paying 50 or 100 rupees more,” said Vivek Singh, a software engineer who often has to take a train to his native place in Uttar Pradesh.

A few passengers complained on Tuesday that even though the fares would be reduced, other user charges would increase and ultimately the difference would not be much. “Also we have problems getting confirmed tickets from the counter. But if we approach the travel agents, they provide us with confirmed tickets at a very short notice,” said Praween Kumar Singh, a senior executive with a freight forwarding firm here and a native of Jharkhand.

The announcement of concessions for girl students up to graduation and boy students up to Class XII for travel between school and home has brought smiles to families with young children. “It would definitely ease the pressure on the pockets a little bit,” said Nivedita, a teacher with two minor children living in Ghaziabad.

There were also a few who sounded sceptical about the Railway Ministry’s move to reduce fares. “The fares have been slashed just to make an impression. They would not make much of a difference in my travel bills and there is no certainty about their remaining at the same level once the elections are over,” said Jesse Sebastian, an advertising firm executive from Ernakulam in Kerala.

At New Delhi railway station, however, the licensed porters bore a happy expression after being told that the Government intends to absorb them as Grade IV employees. “If it does happen, we would obviously be happy. Now we hardly earn Rs.100 or 150. If we get a permanent job our financial situation will definitely improve,” said Ram Din, a porter for the past five years.

There were also some passengers who accused the Railway Minister of catering to only his constituency by providing more trains and other services in Bihar. “I am coming from Kerala and I have to go to Punjab. But there are no trains connecting major centres of Punjab to southern parts of the country,” complained Joginder Singh of Ludhiana.

Another passenger from Haryana complained about broad gauge trains still not plying in certain areas of the State, something that was promised by the Railway Minister last year.

One of the major concerns for the passengers, however, is the quality of services – particularly hygiene and quality of food – being offered on long-distance trains. “There are many times one can spot cockroaches in coaches. The sheets, pillows and blankets are often not clean. The conditions in the toilets are also not good. Even some of the reputed trains are short on these counts,” said Taru Govind, a health professional. She hoped that with the Railways earning profits, the Ministry would focus on these areas too.

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