In the face of protests from alliance partner Shiv Sena and own party MPs, the NDA Government on Tuesday decided not to implement the rail hike on second class suburban trains for travel upto 80 km. However, long distance travelers will have no such luck. From Wednesday, they will have to shell out fares hiked by 14.2 per cent.
A late evening Railway Ministry order said the proposed June 20 hike in rail fares would not apply to second class suburban trains for travel up to 80 km. According to the new rates proposed, a Rs 85 monthly season ticket (II Class) would have cost Rs 150, while a Rs 190 monthly pass would cost Rs 480. The monthly season pass of Rs 795 for the first class was put to Rs 1,930. A first class commuter with a monthly pass of Rs 1,740 would have shelled out Rs 2,120 more.