JPA demands rollback of passengers fare and freight rates

The Jharkhand Passengers Association (JPA) today demanded roll back of the Railway Ministry's decision to effect a "stiff hike" in passenger and freight rates while demanding a probe into various "scams" and prevention of "leakages" in wagons.
"We demand immediate rollback of hike in passenger and freight rates. The government can meet annual expenditure by controlling scams and preventing leakages in wagons," JPA's secretary Prem Kataruka said in a statement here.
"Wagons carrying iron ore and coal are being stopped at particular places to encourage theft. They should be stopped immediately," he said.
Demanding investigations into scams in the railways, Kataruka also alleged that the railways waived several crores towards demurrage, " incurring loss".

The railways today ordered hike of 14.2 per cent in passenger fares in all classes and a 6.5 per cent increase in freight rates to garner Rs 8000 crore a year.