The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday strongly criticised the Centre’s decision to increase railway fares, accusing the Narendra Modi-led government of burdening the common public and neglecting the railways while focusing on publicity.
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge alleged that accountability in the Railways has weakened since the scrapping of the separate Railway Budget. He claimed that the government was more focused on image-building than addressing structural and safety issues in the sector.
“Modi Govt is leaving no opportunity to loot the common public. Second railway fare hike in a single year, days before the Union Budget. With no separate Railway Budget, accountability has vanished. Railways ail as the Modi Govt is busy in fake publicity rather than concrete delivery,” Kharge wrote.
Raising concerns over passenger safety, the Congress chief cited National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, claiming that 2.18 lakh deaths occurred in railway accidents between 2014 and 2023. He alleged that rail travel had become increasingly unsafe under the current administration.
Kharge also criticised the implementation of the Kavach safety system, stating that it covers less than 3 per cent of railway routes and under 1 per cent of locomotives. He further pointed to staffing shortages, alleging that around 3.16 lakh vacancies remain unfilled in the Railways, with contractual hiring on the rise.
Referring to parliamentary committee reports, Kharge alleged underutilisation of funds allocated for training and human resource development. He claimed that only 42 per cent of such funds were utilised in 2023–24 and 68 per cent till December in 2024–25. He also raised concerns about working conditions for loco pilots and criticised the pace of station redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat scheme, alleging that only one station has been upgraded against a target of 453.
The Congress president further accused the Railways of financial mismanagement, citing Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) data that reported losses of ₹2,604 crore. He also criticised the withdrawal of senior citizen concessions, claiming it resulted in an additional ₹8,913 crore being collected from elderly passengers. Kharge questioned claims regarding high-speed services, stating that Vande Bharat trains operate at an average speed of 76 kmph, far below the projected 160 kmph.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways on Sunday announced a rationalisation of passenger fares, with the revised structure set to come into effect from December 26. The ministry said the move aims to balance rising operational costs while minimising the burden on passengers.
According to the Railways, there will be no fare increase for suburban services and Monthly Season Ticket (MST) holders. Ordinary-class passengers travelling up to 215 kilometres will also not face any hike. For journeys beyond 215 kilometres in ordinary class, fares will rise by one paise per kilometre. Mail and Express non-AC categories, as well as AC classes, will see a uniform increase of two paise per kilometre.
The ministry said the impact on passengers would be limited, noting that a 500-kilometre non-AC journey would cost only ₹10 extra. The fare rationalisation is expected to generate additional revenue of around ₹600 crore.
