The Railway Board Chairperson Vinay Mittal hinted on Saturday that passenger fares are likely to be increased from October, as per media reports.
Earlier, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal made it clear that there will be no further hike in the near future in reservation or cancellation charges, though cross subsidy from freight to passenger segment has touched Rs 25,000 crore.
He had also pressed for bringing down the operating ratio (amount spent to earn every Rs 100) from the current level of 88.8 percent to 80 percent by bringing efficiency in resource utilisation and for expansion of railway services including infrastructure.
Replying to the debate in Rajya Sabha on Railway Budget 2013-14, he had justified the hike in the fares effected on January 21 and said it was "inevitable" as it had come after 12 years.
The government had earlier increased fares in January.
According to the then increase, Fares of Ordinary Second Class (suburban) trains were to go up by 2 paise per km while for non-suburban travel it was hiked to 3 paise.
Travel by Second Class Mail and Express trains was increased by 4 paise per km, while it was increased to 6 paise in Sleeper Class.
