Train Fares Set To Increase; Railways To Charge Airport-Like Fee

For train travellers, using Indian Railways' renovated stations fares are set to rise, as the behemoth will charge a fee similar to user development fee charged at several airports.

In a press briefing, railway board Chairman said the amount of fee will differ across redeveloped stations and would depend on their footfall. The rates will be notified soon by the ministry, he added. "The user development fee, along the lines of a levy charged by airport operators, will be used to help fund the upgradation of stations. The charges will be nominal," Yadav said.

On the extent of hike in fares, the Chairman said that there shall be only a marginal hike in train ticket prices, compensating for the customer's experience of world-class stations.

With an investment worth Rs. 50000 crore, the government will invite bids for redeveloping 50 stations via the Indian Railway Station Redevelopment Corporation Ltd (IRSDC) in 2020-21. Meanwhile, it has issued a request for proposal (RFP) inviting bids for renovating Nagpur, Amritsar, Sabarmati and Gwalior stations at a projected cost of Rs. 1296 crore.

In its first term, the NDA government announced plans to redevelop as many as 400 railway stations.

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