Interim Rail Budget: Not competing in populist measures, says Kharge

"I do not want to compete with anybody for popularity or in populist measures. I am really interested in the growth of railways and it should give facility to passengers and the Railways should survive for people of the country and its common citizens," Kharge said outside Parliament after presenting the Interim Rail Budget 2014-15.

His response came when it was pointed out that the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had announced a reduction of passenger fares by 2 per cent in the Interim Rail Budget in 2009.

Passenger fares and freight rates were left untouched in the interim rail budget, which talks about plans about involvement of private sector and FDI as part of efforts to modernise the largest transport network in the country.

"I want to be realistic and railways should sustain, it should give service to all the people. That is our motive," he said.

WATCH: Mallikarjun Kharge presents interim Rail Budget

Describing the budget as "growth oriented", he said "whatever was possible in the interim budget, we have tried to do that. We have not increased passenger fares or freight rates in the interim budget. Whatever resources could be mobilised in the existing system, we have tried to utilise that."

On the premier trains with dynamic fares, he said "some earnings are required as without earnings we cannot give facilities to passengers. That is why 17 premier trains will be pressed into service. Whatever we will earn from these 17 trains, the earnings will help in running other 56 trains."

Kharge had announced launching of 73 trains in his maiden rail budget out of which 56 are regular trains and 17 premier trains named as Jai Hind Express.

Regular passenger fares will not be applicable in Jai Hind Express trains as these will be operational on dynamic fares which means fares will be decided on the basis of demand.

"This will also help in eliminating the touts. So whatever we will earn in these 17 premier trains, the benefit will be passed onto the passengers of 56 trains," Kharge said.

Jai Hind Express trains that will run in 17 routes but 56 trains will run for common people. In these 56 trains the fare will remain the same.

Asked whether Minister's power of deciding fares was taken away after the formation of rail tariff authority (RTA), he said, "It was never with Minister. It was Railway Board which used to decide on it. After the RTA formation, all stakeholders, passengers, transporters, industrialists will have representations in deciding the fare in freight and passenger sector."

Defending the RTA decision, he said, "RTA will suggest whatever is economically feasible and should not burden the people. So if a third party suggests some thing, then it will be easier to implement. So no one can say it was an irrational decision."

FULL COVERAGE: The Great Indian Budget