I have pulled out railways from ICU by hiking passenger fares

Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi spent much of his press conference after presenting the Railway Budget to justify the passenger fare hike and duck political questions on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjees demand for a rollback

Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi spent much of his press conference after presenting the Railway Budget to justify the passenger fare hike and duck political questions on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjees demand for a rollback. Excerpts:

This is the first time in 8 years that passenger fares have been increased. How do you justify it?

What do you think I should have done? Whenever I went anywhere,everyone asked me when are you increasing fares. All committees appointed to look into amenities or finances suggested raising resources for security,for cleanliness. How was that to be done? For all this,money is required? Weve raised the fares in paise terms; how many of us even keep a Rs 2 coin now?

The fares have to take into account fuel hikes and roadways fares; we are still cheap compared to that. The railways was getting into an intensive care unit ICU and I have pulled it out. You cannot have everything together. If everybody else is increasing fares,how much can I afford to subsidise? I had asked for a gross budgetary support of Rs 43,000 crore; I got only Rs 24,000 crore. How do I keep myself afloat?

Mamata Banerjee and your party Trinamool Congress have opposed the fare hike? What do you have to say.

I have taken the decision with full responsibility and consciously. All that I have done is for the health of the Railways. And I have to say that the leadership at the top level was not aware of the decision. It is an erroneous impression that the budget was prepared in the Writers Building.

There is talk that you have been asked to quit or,alternately,you might go in for a rollback.

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Well,Parliament is in session. I cannot comment on policy issues. As for the resignation,I will if I am asked to. My efforts will be to persuade my leader Mamata Banerjee. I stand by what my conscience says,for me the country comes first,it gets my first loyalty and,then,my family. I leave it up to the people to judge what is right or wrong.

There is talk of a fuel-adjustment surcharge and a regulatory authority on tariff8230;

The fuel-adjustment surcharge would be an automatic component on tariffs as in airline tickets. So,that will be on auto-pilot. Regulator on tariffs is an idea whose time has come; since fare hikes are always political and debatable,therefore,its not easy as railway minister to raise tariffs and fares. A regulator who gives you a sound basis for all is important.

What about earnings from the massive real estate holdings8230;

Our biggest asset is our stations. When I looked at railway earnings in other countries,I found that in countries like Japan,stations accounted for 30 per cent of earnings. I would be happy if Im able to decongest platforms,but make stations paying.