Railways to charge ‘user fee’ at nearly 1,000 stations, tickets may cost more
New Delhi: Indian Railways plans to introduce “affordable” user fees at 700-1050 train stations across the country with large numbers of visitors to generate more revenue while providing better world-class facilities to passengers. At a press conference on Thursday, the Chairman of the Railway Board, VK Yadav, stated that the national carrier will soon start charging a “user fee” as part of the train fares for stations that have been remodeled and main stations with a large influx to generate more revenue to provide better passenger facilities.
The charges would be nominal and applicable in 10-15 percent of the 7,000 train stations across the country, Yadav added. Note that the initial plan was to impose user fees on passengers using only 50 modernized stations. However, now the plan is to introduce a nominal fee at more than 1,000 stations.
“We will keep a very small amount for the user’s charge. We will issue a notification for the user charge for all stations, including those that are being remodeled and those that are not. When the refurbishment of the stations is completed, the money will go to the dealers, until then that money will go to the railways to improve the facilities at the stations. It will be an affordable amount, but it is important to charge it if we want to provide world-class facilities similar to airports. We want to improve all of our main train stations, ”Yadav said.
Assuring people that not all stations will have the rate, Yadav said: “We will not apply it at all of our 7,000 stations, but at all major stations where the influx of passengers will increase in the next five years.” It will be done in 10-15 percent of all the stations of the railway network where the influx is expected to increase ”, he added. The announcement release comes at a time when we are already concerned about a possible increase in ticket prices with private entities that can operate trains in the country.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant was also present at the briefing and stated that the goal is to offer 50 stations for refurbishment by the end of next year. The carrier will report a predetermined and affordable user charge. “We expect an investment close to ₹ 1 trillion. RFQs (Request for Qualification) have been submitted for 10 stations. Eight stations (including Gwalior and Surat) received overwhelming participation (from private investors), “Kant said.
User charges are basically a token amount, which will be used to improve facilities at the station for the comfort of all passengers. According to officials, the facility management will only collect the fee when the development of the station is completed. Before that, if there is a need to impose any charges on the user, it will only go to the railways and reinvest to improve the facilities for the passengers.
