Oppn slams surge pricing ahead of poll

Opposition parties were united in slamming the Modi government for introducing surge pricing on rail tickets for premium trains and demanded immediate roll-back.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing surge pricing for Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto category of trains. “The speed of the train may increase or not, but Modiji has put the fares on the fast track. Modiji’s model is to loot from the common people and provide relief to some of his industrialist friends,” the Congress vice-president tweeted.

The CPM, CPI and AAP dubbed the surge pricing as “unethical” and joined the chorus for withdrawal of the measure. Interestingly, only last month Parliament’s Railway Convention Committee, chaired by BJD leader Bhratruhari Mahtab, had argued in favour of dynamic pricing for railways. The committee, which has representatives cutting across party lines, gave a unanimous report which also voiced concern over the absence of dynamic fares on Railways.

But on Thursday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the move as a “rude shock” and an “ugly gift” for the “ordinary people of India” during the festival season and demanded an immediate roll-back.