Train travel to burn hole in pocket as Railways hike passenger fare by 14.2%, freight charges up by 6.5%

New Delhi: The BJP government on Friday announced the hike in Railway passenger fare as well as freight fare. The passenger fare is increased by 14.2 percent while the freight charges have gone up by 6.5 percent effective from today. It is notable that the rail budget is likely to be presented in the second week of July. The Railways Minister Sadanand Gowda has already been giving indications about the fare hike. The Railway Board had already proposed 14.2 percent and 6.5 percent hike in passenger fare and freight fare respectively. The discussion about fare hike has been going on between Sadanand Gowda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a few days. Recently in Goa, Modi had said that some strong decisions are likely to be made soon. This may be one of those decisions by BJP government. Gowda had told reporters "We are discussing the matter and within three-four days, we will come to a conclusion on passenger fare hike." Gowda had also met Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman for discussing the FDI in railways.