Sir .
There was no increase in rail fares for the last 8 years . The damaging effects of this populist move has resulted in once considered satisfactory transportation system in the world , going bad . The safety , track condition , the rolling stock condition , signalling equipment , you name it and it has been adversely affected due to cash curnch .There were no replacements for ageing rail tracks , no addition to track length . Financial condition had become so bad that cash inflow were just about meeting the cash out flows. Rail Minister Trivedi has shown great courage of conviction and in the interest of railways and larger national interest announced fare increase.One glance at the Rail Budget highlights , if really implemented , will improve the health of railways and bring in much needed improvement in the services for the general public.It is a national tragedy that a leader who has acted in the larger national interest has been made to resign on the whims and self interest of one individual lady.This also reflects extremely poorly on the ruling party and the Government . It is agreed that the increase in fare may affect the common man . It is the responsibility of all the right thinking people, the print and the electronic media to explain to general public that if this increase and more revenue is not generated for railways , a time may come when we may not have a working transportation system . * Opposition parties also know fully well that railways were heading for serious problems due to cash crunch , even then they have denounced the budget . It also reflects their self interest, lack of keeping national interest in mind and opposing a reasonable thing just for the sake of opposing .The government must stand firm and should not rollback the fare hike . If done , we may not have any rail network and the railways may also go the way of Air India , which at one time was most respected airline in the world.
Well done Mr Trivedi .
PM Velankar.
GOT PUBLISHED - 16/03.
* Highlighted portion of original text not published.Most probably an oversight.
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