Congress Criticizes Modi Government for Railway Fare Hike

The Congress party has strongly criticized the Narendra Modi-led government for increasing railway fares, labeling it as a covert action that burdens the general public. Senior Congress leader Ajoy Kumar has called for the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, accusing him of worsening the state of the national carrier. Kumar, in a press conference, denounced the fare hike, which was quietly implemented through a circular and came into effect on December 26, as the second increase during the current term, post-July 2025. He stated that fares have surged by 107% in the past decade under Modi’s leadership, escalating from 32 paise per kilometer at the end of the UPA era to 66 paise presently. Despite the government’s portrayal of the increase as a nominal raise of 1-2 paise per kilometer (1 paise for ordinary class beyond 215 km; 2 paise for non-AC mail/express and all AC classes), Kumar argued that this translates to an additional cost of Rs 100-200 for average passengers. The revision is anticipated to yield Rs 600 crore by March 2026, following the Rs 700 crore generated from the July hike. Kumar also criticized the elimination of concessions for senior citizens, alleging a loss of Rs 8,600 crore for them. He highlighted other escalations such as platform ticket prices rising from Rs 3 to Rs 50 (though the current standard is Rs 10-50 at select stations), train meal costs from Rs 30 to Rs 120, and parking fees of Rs 500 for over 30 minutes. Referring to CAG reports, he claimed that train food is frequently unsuitable for consumption. Addressing safety concerns, Kumar pointed out 712 accidents since 2014, resulting in 768 fatalities. He juxtaposed the Rs 1.08 lakh crore expenditure on bullet trains with insufficient funding for the ‘Kavach’ anti-collision system, urging its immediate nationwide implementation. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed the criticism, accusing the government of exploiting the public amidst negligence, overcrowding, and delays. The party has demanded a rollback of the fare hike, reinstatement of concessions, and a focus on safety over prestigious projects. Railway officials have defended the fare adjustment as essential due to escalating costs, with exemptions for suburban services, short ordinary trips, and season tickets to lessen the impact on daily commuters. The opposition’s criticism underscores mounting apprehensions regarding affordability and safety in India’s extensive rail network.