Train fare hike is necessary, financial position of Railways not sound: Minister

New Delhi: The Minister of State for Railways Surya Prakash Reddy has indicated that the train fares may be hiked soon as the "financial condition of the Railways is not sound". Speaking to reporters, Reddy said that hiking the fares had become necessary.

Train fares have been at the centre of political battles involving the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA). TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, an ex-constituent of the coalition UPA government, has been opposed to hike in train fares saying that it will add on to the burden on the common man.

Mamata even managed to force one her party members Dinesh Trivedi to step down as Railway Minister after he presented the Railway Budget in which he had proposed to hike train fares. Mamata had alleged that Trivedi did not take the party into confidence before taking the decision to increase the fares.

Train fares have been at the centre of political battles involving the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the ruling UPA.

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