Title - Railways union demands 60% rise in fares

NAGPUR, SEP 9:  INTUC-affiliated National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) has demanded a rise in rail fares by 60 percent, which would fetch Rs 12,000 crores to augment the resources of railways.

The additional revenue would help the Indian Railways to improve its existing facilities and overcome the financial crunch, NFIR general secretary M Raghavaiah told PTI.

The federation has also demanded that the Centre should extend a financial assistance of Rs 15,000 crores per annum to the railways, to compensate its financial losses.

“The financial position of Indian Railways is concerning in spite of it achieving targets in freight movement as well as passenger and transport areas,” Raghavaiah, who was here to address the All India Loco Inspectors Conference, said.

While bus and air fares have gone up many times, the train fares have remain unchanged for many years, he said.

He also raised concern over incidents of disruption of rail traffic in several states, leading to huge losses to railways. Law and order is a state subject and the governments must ensure no such things take place, he said.

He also raised concern over two lakh posts in railways, including one lakh in safety departments, lying vacant.

NFIR has also demanded implementation of yardstick for creation of additional posts of loco Inspectors for effective monitoring and counselling of loco pilots.