Your train ticket may get costlier as Railways plans 2% security cess

The special safety fund envisages spending of Rs 20,000 crore on safety upgradation every year

Plagued by repeated derailments, the Indian Railways is considering imposing a two per cent safety cess on train tickets. The funds will be utilised for strengthening accident prevention measures.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the cess could be fixed at about 2 per cent of the total fare amount.

While higher class fares — AC-I and AC-2 — have been gradually raised in the past few years, tariffs in the non-reserved classes and suburban trains have largely remained untouched.

Approximately 94 per cent of the passengers travel in the unreserved second class.

The state-run behemoth is