Congress Criticizes Railway Fare Hike Amid Safety Concerns

The recent decision by the central government to raise railway fares has drawn sharp criticism from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration of burdening the common people, stating that the railway system is currently suffering from neglect, indifference, and misleading propaganda. In a post on the social media platform 'X', Kharge claimed that accountability within the railway sector has diminished since the abolition of a separate railway budget. He asserted that instead of addressing the deteriorating conditions of the railways, the government is focusing on public relations efforts.

 

In his post, Kharge expressed that the Modi government is seizing every opportunity to exploit the public. Just days before the central budget, railway fares have been increased for the second time within a single year. He pointed out that the absence of a separate railway budget has led to a lack of accountability. The railway system is undernourished, as the government prioritizes false advertising over tangible improvements. Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), he raised concerns about passenger safety, claiming that there have been 2.1 million deaths in railway accidents from 2014 to 2023, indicating that train travel has become unsafe.

 

Kharge also criticized the implementation of the Kavach safety system, noting that it covers less than 3% of railway routes and fewer than 1% of engines. He wrote, "Safety has derailed, deaths have surged: 2.1 million fatalities in railway accidents (NCRB report: 2014-23). The railways are no longer safe; traveling by train is a gamble with life. The condition of Kavach is poor: five years of publicity with no seriousness. Kavach covers less than 3% of routes and fewer than 1% of engines - a safety system that exists only in grand speeches. Jobs are vacant, the future is stalled: 3.1 million vacancies are rotting the system. Youth are waiting for permanent positions, while contractual appointments are on the rise (latest annual report on salaries and allowances)."

 

Referencing reports from parliamentary committees, Kharge accused the government of underutilizing training and human resource development funds, with only 42% utilized in 2023-24 and 68% by December 2024-25. He highlighted that locomotive pilots are not even granted basic leave (according to the parliamentary standing committee report). He remarked on the disparity in performance under the Amrit Bharat scheme, where only one station has been upgraded against a target of 453 - a cruel joke on development.

 

Kharge also pointed to financial mismanagement, citing figures from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that indicate a loss of ₹2,604 crores. He noted that concessions for senior citizens have been withdrawn, resulting in an additional revenue of ₹8,913 crores from elderly passengers. Furthermore, he questioned the claims regarding high-speed trains, stating that Vande Bharat trains operate at an average speed of 76 km/h, significantly lower than the claimed 160 km/h.

 

In his post, he concluded that there is an abundance of showmanship while the reality is grim: railway reels are being filmed, and ATMs are being promoted, all while the railway incurs heavy losses - a ₹2,604 crore deficit (CAG, 2024), and concessions for senior citizens have been eliminated, extracting ₹8,913 crores from the elderly. Alarm bells are ringing regarding speed: Vande Bharat operates at 76 km/h compared to the claimed 160 km/h.