A red-faced Congress-led UPA Government which faced a humiliating rout had egg on its face after it had to withdraw its decision to hike passenger and freight fares within hours of its announcement of a massive hike on Friday.
late in the evening, Railway ministry announced that under the directions of the Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, the decision on the proposed hike in the freight charges and passenger fares have been kept pending till further advice for placing this proposal before the new Government for taking a view/decision in the matter.
When the counting of votes was going on, the Railway Ministry hiked both passenger fares and freight rates by 14.2 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively, effective from May 20. According to a Railway Ministry official release, while a flat 10 per cent was announced in all classes, an additional 4.2 per cent increase under fuel adjustment component (FAC)-linked revision scheme was to be effected on passenger fares, taking the upper revision of fares to 14.2 per cent.