"The hike in rail fares across the board was a sound economic decision and should not be politicised. The fares have not been hiked for 10 years," Chidambaram told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, announcing the fare hike Wednesday, said the increase would be effective Jan 21 midnight.
The opposition including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Left parties and Trinamool Congress had said the hike was anti-poor.
"It is a fair game for the opposition to oppose the hike for the sake of opposition," said Chidambaram.
He said the fares had not been hiked since the time of then railway minister Nitish Kumar in 2003.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app