|
Government backs off rail fare hikes partially
Thursday March 22, 2012 01:56:55 PM,
Agencies
|
|
|
|
|
New Delhi: The government
on Thursday rolled back some of the increases in rail fares
that were announced in the railway budget presented by former
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi.
The roll-back came a week after a
rebellion within the ranks of the ruling coalition over the issue,
which forced the resignation of Dinesh Trivedi.
Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy
took over the charge of the railway ministry on Tuesday.
He told the parliament that fares for
first and second class passengers in air-conditioned carriages
would still go up, but there would be no increases for other
classes of travel more commonly used by the poor.
"The proposal to increase (fares) will impact the common man," Roy
said. "I intend to give relief by not increasing fares in any of
these classes."
The proposed increase in passenger fares, the first in eight
years, was aimed at shoring up the finances of a rail network
whose dysfunction has become a major drag on the economy.
The objection to the increase, led by the Trinamool Congress,
underscored the inability of the UPA government to take unpopular
steps and its vulnerability in the face of querulous coalition
allies.
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
 Congress scores in Karnataka, Gujarat, mauled in Andhra
The
Congress scored crucial victories in BJP-ruled Karnataka and
Gujarat as well as in Kerala, but lost in all the seven assembly
by-polls in party-ruled Andhra Pradesh, while the respective
ruling parties in Tamil Nad
»
Bypoll shock for Congress in Andhra
UDF wins Kerala by-election
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 US serves notice on India on Iran oil sanctions
The United States has served notice on India and 11
other major importers of Iranian oil that a decision on imposing
financial sanctions on them would depend on progress in cutting »
|
|
Government disowns remarks on gays
As the Supreme Court said parliament was the forum to decide the
desirability of retaining Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code,
the government Wednesday sought to disassociate itself from
Additional Solicitor General P.P. Malhotra's
»
Homosexuality, lesbian relationships unnatural, SC told
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Attack on Israeli embassy car: Kazmi's
petition disposed of
A Delhi
court Wednesday disposed of a petition by arrested journalist Syed
Mohammad Kazmi in which he alleged that officials of a "foreign
agency" had interrogated him over the bomb attack on an Israeli
embassy car here.
» |
|
BJP again caught in porn scandal, now in Gujarat
Barely a
month after a porn scandal hit its ministers in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday found itself mired in more
sleaze after a journalist alleged that BJP legislators in Gujarat
were watching obscene
»
|
|
Of Muslims and Police
When Need for Physical Safety Overwhelms All Other concerns
Yusuf, a school dropout but business
sharp, organizes annual large Iftaar parties in
» |
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
Union Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee giving final touches to the General
Budget 20112-13, in New Delhi on March 15, 2012. Minister of
State for Finance Namo Narain Meena and the Secretaries of the
Ministry are also seen. |
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links