Mamata Demands Less Fares, More Safety in Indian Railway
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns over the Indian railways’ high fares and less safety measures. Taking to X, Mamata pointed out that the hike in railway prices has made the common man’s life cumbersome, as even Suvidha trains sometimes charge higher fares than airline companies do.
Sad to find that railway passenger fares are steeply increasing and even in Suvidha trains the fares are sometimes higher than air fares!!
Where will common people go in case of emergencies?!
Fare hike must be curbed and reduced! And attention must be given to safety and…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 19, 2023
‘Where will common people go in case of emergencies?!’ Mamata asked in her X post while demanding a curb in fare hikes and a reduction of fares. Mamata urged the government to ensure adequate security and safety measures for passengers instead of prioritizing fare hikes.
Having recalled her days as Railway Minister, Mamata claimed that she is the one who introduced anti-collision devices and other anti-accident measures. She accused the government of not using such devices to avoid train accidents while the anti-people fare regime has been left unchecked.
Mamata Banerjee served as the Indian Railway Minister twice during her political career.
Mamata Banerjee became the first female Railway Minister of India in 1999 when she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. During her first tenure, she focused on improving the railway infrastructure in her home state of West Bengal. She introduced several new trains connecting various parts of the state and initiated several modernization projects.
Banerjee”s second tenure as Railway Minister began in 2009 when her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), formed a coalition government with the Indian National Congress (INC) at the center. During this period, she continued her focus on expanding the railway network and enhancing passenger amenities. She also introduced several initiatives to improve the safety and efficiency of the Indian Railways.
Banerjee”s tenure as Railway Minister is generally considered to be successful. She is credited with introducing several positive changes to the Indian Railways, particularly in terms of infrastructure development and passenger services. Her efforts helped to modernize the railway system and make it more efficient and accessible to the public.
