In a day of high-voltage drama over proposed hike in passenger fares in the rail budget; commuters apparently didn't have much to complain about. While a hike in fares after eight years of status quo was expected, better services were the common anticipation.
“Fare hike is welcome if it has to be used for improving the services offered in Railways,” Ms Sampurna Das, a student, said.
For some, the decision to hike sleeper class fares was definitely not a welcome one.
“Fare hikes in AC coaches are welcome since passengers can afford it. But, an increase in sleeper class fares and local trains are unjust,” Mr Shanti Sen Pastey, a marketing professional, said.
Following the proposals, an AC first class fare is expected to go up by nearly Rs 250, while sleeper class fares may move up by Rs 50. On an average, fares for a Kolkata- Mumbai journey is expected to shoot up somewhere between 7 to 10 per cent across different categories.
However, the fare hike has indeed not gone down well with everyone.
“Increase in train fares is welcome. But, we did not expect such a steep hike,” Ms Papri Dutta, an engineering student, said.
Ms Meenakshi Nair, a central government employee, too was unhappy with the hike. “Instead of increasing fares, Railways should have decreased them,” she said.
Goodies for Bengal
Meanwhile, the Rail budget has brought along its share of goodies for Bengal. Of the 75 new Express trains proposed, 12 are from the State.
Similarly, of the extension of services proposed for 40 trains, six are from Bengal.
Frequencies of four trains have been increased too. Five of the 45 new lines to be constructed in 2012-13 will be in the State.
Suburban Rail
Amongst the other goodies, Mr Trivedi has proposed 44 new suburban rail services in Kolkata. Some of the new suburban services for Kolkata include Sealdah-Ranaghat, Ranaghat-Naihati, Ranaghat-Shantipur, Mecheda-Digha along with others.
Metro Rail
Along with suburban rail services, 50 new Kolkata Metro services has also been proposed in 2012-13. According to the Railway minister, Kolkata Metro extension projects have seen “satisfactory progress” in all the five phases.
In addition, proposals have been placed for carrying out the first phase of work on the Joka- Tollygunge (now called Mahanayak Uttam Kumar) Metro Railway link. The first phase will see an extension of Metro Railway from Joka to Diamond Park.
While the survey work for extension of the Metro Railway link from Barrackpore to Kalyani has been completed; extension of circular railway from Remount Road to Santoshpur (via Garden Reach, Metiabruz) has already begun.