Resource mobilisation

Sir — This refers to the report, “Rail fares chug up steeply” (June 21). The hue and cry that the Opposition has raised on the increase in railway fares and the media’s sarcasm on Mr Narendra Modi’s pre-poll comment about the advent of good days, are unwarranted.

The price of every other thing has gone up considerably during the last 10 years, but railway fares were not increased due to political considerations. As Union Railways Minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi proposed a mild increase in fares to generate resources for the modernisation of the system, but he was shunted out by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh under pressure from Ms Mamata Banerjee. The successor Minister kept the hike in abeyance due to political reasons.

Railways Ministers have been declaring new trains in every railway Budget, but had no resources to improve passenger facilities and safety. In spite of being a commercial organisation, Indian Railways is presently running massive losses. This has to change. Somebody had to bite the bullet, and the Modi regime has done that.