AAP versus
railway authorities
By Dinesh
Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
of Navi Mumbai, under its convener Ravi Srivastava, displayed its opposition to
the surcharge of Rs 5 imposed by suburban sector of Central Railway (CR). They
expressed their anger and frustration at the Vashi railway station few days
back. They had the backing of many railway commuters. AAP is determined to organize
similar protests at other railway stations of Navi Mumbai in the near future.
The railway authorities have given their reason for
hiking the price of the rail ticket. According to them, CIDCO and Railways had
constructed the Vashi creek bridge in 1995. This construction had cost them
around Rs 100 crore. CR now intends to
recover that amount with interest and hence it first imposed a surcharge of Rs
2 per ticket. A few days later, the cost of the ticket was again raised by Rs 1
more. This surcharge was still again increased to Rs 5.
The result was that the cost of second class railway
ticket from Vashi to CST is now Rs 15. On the other routes it is only Rs 10 for
the same distance. When a Navi Mumbaikar wants a return ticket, he has to pay
Rs 10 extra.
It is alleged that Central Railway (CR) has already
recovered hundreds of crores from the public in last 18 years from sale of
tickets. The question asked is why are they still continuing to collect
surcharge? Even the first class passengers have to pay the surcharge.
Srivastava had even corresponded with Minister of
Railways, Pawan Kumar Bansal and also to Railway Board chairman, protesting
against the surcharge, but in vain. He at last took resort to Right To
Information Act and asked CR to hand him the details relating to this matter.
AAP has now planned to collect a huge number of signatures
from railway commuters all over Navi Mumbai who oppose the surcharge imposed by
the railways.
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