Coal town traders have demanded the Indian Railways to immediately roll back the exorbitant hike in train fares implemented by the central government after the Covid induced lockdown.

A letter in this regard has been sent by Sanjay Baid, president of Bokaro Chamber Commerce to Ashwini Vaishnaw, union minister of railway, demanding rollback of hike in train fare and simultaneously also demanded restoration of the pre-lockdown provision of concession for senior citizens, widow and defence personnel.

Baid said that the fare of special trains ahead of lockdown was almost at par with the other trains but an exorbitant hike in train fare almost comparable with tatkal ticket fare has been carried out after the lockdown which is still continuing without any reason despite extension schedule of these trains several times.

"As trains have been increased now on almost all the routes and situation has normalized there is no logic of running these trains as special trains putting the burden of extra fare on passengers including the senior citizens, widows students who have also deprived of their concession in reservation charges in name of special trains," said Baid.

"For special trains, 500km of fare has been made mandatory which is not at all correct as the passenger travelling for 300 meters only will have to pay the fare of 500 kms of journey," said Baid who is also member of Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee.

President of Sindri Chamber of Commerce, Deepak Kumar Dipu said, "The hike in fare has not only affected the long distance travellers but also those covering short distance like 28 km between Dhanbad to Sindri as the fare Sindri town passenger train has been increased to three fold to Rs 30 per passenger after its recent restoration from the pre lockdown fare of Rs 10 per passenger.”

"We will soon meet Ashish Bansal, Divisional Railway Manager of Dhanbad demanding restoration of all three ferries of train and simultaneous restoration of old fare of Rs 10 per passenger," said Dipu.

Book trader Rajesh Kumar Gupta who is also the patron of Federation of Dhanbad Zila Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, "At a time when the common people are badly hit due to decreased income due to impact of pandemic the realization of exorbitant fare from passengers is not at all justified."