UPA report card on Railways: No hike in passenger fares

Pointing out that welfare of the common man was its key priority, government today said it did not raise passenger fares for rail travellers keeping this in mind.

"The welfare of the people being the top most priority, there has been no increase in passenger fares during the year," said the UPA government's 'Report to the People' released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today.

It said despite the global economic meltdown, railways achieved the growth of 6.5 per cent in freight loading in 2009-10.

During the last financial year 14 new non-stop 'Duronto' trains were introduced and a ladies special train 'Matribhoomi Express' was also introduced in big cities.

The report said that six cities have also been chosen for setting up perishable cargo centres, which will have facilities for cold storage and agri-retail outlets, the first of which is coming up at Singur in West Bengal.

Railways have also introduced a train exclusively for the transportation of milk and its products which runs in a closed circuit between Palanpur and Kanpur during this year.

It also said work was progressing for construction of the dedicated freight corridors.

The UPA report card said the work for setting up a new coach manufacturing factory at Rae Bareily is in full swing while sanction has been granted for another factory for manufacturing suburban train coaches at Kanchrapara in West Bengal.