New Delhi : Indian Railways will soon start charging ‘user charge’ from passengers at redeveloped and highly busy stations just like air fares. Railway Board Chairman BK Yadav said on Thursday that this decision has been taken to raise revenue in order to provide better facilities to the passengers. This will be the first time that such a fee will be charged from railway passengers after it comes into effect.
Yadav said that the fee will be nominal and it will be applicable only on 10-15 percent of the seven thousand railway stations in the country. The chairman said that we will charge a very nominal ‘user charge’. We will issue a user charge notification for all stations that are being redeveloped. ‘
He said that the ‘User Charge’ will not be charged at all seven thousand stations, but only at those stations where the number of passengers will increase in the next five years. This will be applicable only at about 10-15 percent stations. This statement comes at a time when concern is being expressed over the possible increase in rail fares in the country and the introduction of private companies in the rail sector.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, “I believe that eligibility will ensure that there will be a reduction in both passenger fares and freight.”