The Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the latest hike in rail ticket prices, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge accusing the Centre of repeatedly burdening ordinary citizens while allowing accountability in the railways to erode.
Responding to the Railway Ministry’s decision to raise passenger fares for the second time this year, Kharge alleged that the government was “leaving no opportunity to loot the common public”, particularly ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget.
Announced on Sunday, the fare revision increases ticket prices by 1 paise per kilometre for ordinary class journeys exceeding 215 km, and by 2 paise per kilometre for non-AC classes of mail and express trains as well as AC classes across all trains. The revised rates will come into effect from December 26, 2025.
In a post on X, Kharge said the railways had witnessed “a sad saga of neglect and apathy” under the present dispensation. “The Modi Government is leaving no opportunity to loot the common public. Second railway fare hike in a single year, days before the Union Budget,” he said.
“With no separate Railway Budget, accountability has vanished,” Kharge added in his post in Hindi, alleging that the focus had shifted from delivery to publicity.
Raising concerns over safety, the Congress president claimed that railway travel had become increasingly dangerous. “Safety derails, deaths mount: 2.18 lakh deaths in railway accidents (NCRB Report: between 2014–23). Railways are no longer safe, they're a gamble with life,” he said.
Also read: Train tickets to cost more from Dec 26 as Rlys announce fare hike
Kharge also targeted the implementation of the indigenous train protection system. “KAVACH languishes: Five years of hype, zero seriousness. Kavach covers less than 3 percent routes and less than 1 percent locomotives - a safety system that exists only in lofty speeches,” he said.
On staffing shortages, he said vacancies were crippling the system. “Jobs vacant, future stalled: 3.16 lakh vacancies rot the system. Youth awaits permanent posting, contractual posting on rise,” he said, citing official reports. He further alleged underutilisation of funds meant for training and human resource development, claiming only 42 per cent utilisation in 2023–24 and 68 per cent till December 2024–25.
Referring to a Parliamentary Standing Committee report, Kharge claimed loco pilots were being denied basic rest breaks, while ambitious infrastructure projects were falling short. “Publicity over performance: Under Amrit Bharat, ONLY 1 station has been upgraded against a target of 453,” he said.
He also flagged financial stress and operational shortcomings. “Stunts galore, substance missing… Railways bleed - Rs 2,604 crore losses (CAG, 2024), senior citizen concessions scrapped, extracting Rs 8,913 crore from the elderly,” he said, adding that Vande Bharat trains were running at an average speed of 76 kmph against the claimed 160 kmph.
Responding to criticism, Railway Ministry officials said there would be no increase in fares for monthly season tickets of suburban trains or for ordinary class journeys up to 215 km. They added that the hike was expected to generate Rs 600 crore in additional revenue till March 31, 2026.
According to the ministry, the previous fare hike implemented in July 2025 has already generated Rs 700 crore in revenue.
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