Pitroda dismisses reports on rail fare hike proposal

Vinson Kurian Updated - January 25, 2012 at 03:59 PM.

Advisor to Prime Minister and Chairman of a high-level committee on Railways, Mr Sam Pitroda, has once again dismissed reports that he had recommended a hike in railway passenger fares.

These are speculative information being pushed by interested parties and lack any concrete base, Mr Pitroda, who is visiting Kerala, said here.

Earlier this week, reports had suggested that an expert committee chaired by Mr Pitroda had recommended a 25 per cent hike in railway passenger fares.

The committee had also wanted to index railway fares to inflation, the report suggested.

Mr Pitroda said the committee is still some days away from submitting its recommendations, which would be publicised then and there. He denied having taken any decision on proposing a hike in railway fares.

The expert committee was set up last September to recommend modernisation of the Railways with a view to improving overall efficiency and safety.

Published on January 25, 2012 10:21