[FalHaitle]

Union railway minister Mr Dinesh Trivedi on Monday once again hinted at a possible revision in passenger fares.
Mr Trivedi, who was were to inaugurate the 87th convention of All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) at Railway Stadium in Perambur, told media persons at the Airport that it was necessary to increase the passenger fare marginally so as to improve the quality of service offered to the passengers.

Passengerfare was not hiked during the last eight years, while the fuel price and cost of maintenance of bogies had increased steadily during the same period, Mr Trivedi pointed out that the matter was under the consideration of the Railway Board. The railway minister also asserted that they would not decide unilaterally and any decision pertaining to passenger fare revision would be taken only after ascertaining public opinion.

On the huge backlog of vacancies, Mr Trivedi referred to the filling of around 45,000 vacancies through RRB in the recent past and said the process of recruiting the rest was not easy.

Earlier, addressing the railway workers at the AIRF convention, the railway minister assured to take up their long pending demand with the Railway Broad of free travel in Duronto trains. Union minister of state for railways K.H. Muniyppa promised to consider the request of T.K.S. Elangovan who urged to develop Royapuram station into third passenger terminal instead of shifting it to Tambaram.

-dc chn