NEW DELHI, Aug 4: Refuting the reports that the Railways were planning to bring ticket fares in line with the air fares, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today informed the Rajya Sabha that the Government incurred Rs 35,000-45,000 -rore every year for providing subsidised tickets to the commuters.
In a reply during Question hour, Mr Prabhu said, “The Railway is charging less amount in comparison to actual costing. There is no plan to adopt a fare system like that on the airways.”
He said that the ticketing system has been made dynamic for 1.5 per cent of population, where fare goes up minutely after bookings.”
”In an effort to eliminate middlemen, the railway has started giving 10 per cent discount on online bookings,” the Minister said.
In reply to another question, the Minister said that modernisation of Railways was a continuous process and would be continued. He said that Railway needed Rs 8.52-lakh-crore for its modernisation for five years, of which Rs 3.75-lakh-crore has been allocated for the first three years. The Minister said that re-construction of Railway Stations was being done.
”Ten stations have been given to National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) and another 40 stations will also be given to them. Habibganj and Gandhinagar Stations are being re-developed by private entity,” said the Minister.
(UNI)
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