Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi/Mumbai: The Narendra Modi government might cave in to the demands for scrapping rail fare hike for Mumbai suburban trains.
Media reports have said that PM Modi will take the final call on any rollback, however, government sources have said that that there are concerns after the Bharatiya Janata Party's oldest ally Shiv Sena's criticism in Saamna.
The Shiv Sena and BJP MPs from Maharashtra will meet Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday.
Earlier, terming the fare hike as "shocking", Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had on Saturday said he will speak to Prime Minister Modi and request him to roll it back.
The suburban fare hike is expected to come into effect from June 25.
According to the new rates, a Rs 85 monthly season ticket (II Class) will now cost Rs 150, while a Rs 190 monthly pass will be priced at Rs 480. The monthly season pass of Rs 795 for the first class will cost Rs 1,930. Likewise, a first class commuter with a monthly pass of Rs 1,740 will now have to shell out Rs 2,120 more for the same journey.
Railways, which hiked passenger fares by 14.2 percent from June 25, has further said those who have purchased tickets earlier at pre-revised rates, will have to pay the differences either at booking offices or in trains.
The revised fares will also apply to tickets issued in advance for journeys to commence on or after June 25.
The train fare hike from June 25 will also be affecting monthly season ticket holders. Second class monthly season ticket fares of suburban and non-suburban trains will be on the basis of 30 single journeys instead of approximately 15 single journeys now.
Fares of first class monthly season tickets will be charged four times the second class monthly season ticket fares as is done currently.
Two PILs filed in the Bombay High Court have challenged the steep hike in suburban railway fares announced by the Centre.
With PTI Inputs
