Expressing concern at the deterioration in railway finances, the two major unions of rail employees have asked the government to limit subsidy on fares to certain classes and to raise fares on the rest.
The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen and the All India Railwaymen's Federation also want a rise in freight rates, barring those on essential commodities.
They want fare subsidies for only those below the poverty line, daily wage earners, senior citizens and students.
Otherwise, they want "rationalisation" (meaning, increase) across all other classes of berths, sleeper and air-conditioned.
"There should be appropriate increase in freight charges (barring those on essentials) to make up for the rising input costs and generate adequate internal resources for investment in railway infrastructure. If the government does not announce a fare hike in the next two months, it might have to take debt of Rs. 2,000 crore," said Shiva Gopal Mishra, general secretary of AIRF.
He said a subsidy of 50 per cent should be available for students, 80 per cent for below-poverty line families and 70 per cent for daily wage earners.
These sections are a third of all travellers in the general/sleeper class.
NFIR says it will ask for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on fare rationalisation after the current Parliament session concludes.
While hopeful
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the government would seriously consider these demands, the two unions say they would not hesitate from agitation if proper measures were not taken to strengthen the financial situation of the railways.