User development fee for rail passengers soon
Taking a cue from airports, Indian Railways has mooted a proposal to introduce user development fees on railway tickets. According to the proposal, which is still being drafted, the national carrier plans to charge less than ₹10 on AC and chair car tickets and those that cost more than ₹500 per trip to give people at railway stations the kind of facilities that are available at airports.
Such a move will exclude a majority of travellers, as a very small percentage of people travel in AC compartments.
However, it will help the Railways generate revenue for sta- tions to continue beautification and development work.
“We plan to charge small amount between ₹5 and ₹10 on AC class and chair car tickets and those which cost above ₹500. As stations are introducing facilities like escalators and beautifying railway stations, we would need money to maintain them,” said a senior government official on condition of anonymity.
The official said no decision has yet been taken on the proposal.
As part of the government’s $1 trillion station redevelopment programme, the government plans to make railway stations more attractive and passengerfriendly by adding amenities such as escalators, lifts and shopping complexes.
In April 2017, the Union cabinet had approved the setting up of the authority — a regulator for the railways.
The long awaited regulator was supposed to perform four primary functions — tariff determination, ensuring fair play and level playing field for stakeholder investment, setting efficiency and performance standards and dissemination of information.
NEWDELHI: