Rail ticket prices hike: Modi government leaving no opportunity to loot public, says Kharge

Rail Ticket Prices Hike: Modi Government Leaving No Opportunity to Loot Public, Says Kharge

In a scathing attack on the Modi government, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Centre of exploiting the public yet again by introducing a steep rail fare hike, just ahead of the Union Budget on December 26, 2025. The announcement, made on Sunday, December 21, 2025, aims to generate an estimated Rs 600 crore in additional revenue from longer journeys.

The fare hike targets ordinary class journeys beyond 215 km at 1 paise per km and non-AC classes of mail/express trains and all AC classes at 2 paise per km. However, the exemptions have been extended to suburban services and Monthly Season Ticket (MST) holders, leaving a significant chunk of the public vulnerable to the increased costs. This is the second rail fare hike in a year, and Kharge's criticism cuts to the heart of the government's priorities.

"Leaving no opportunity to loot the public" - these were the harsh words used by Kharge in a post on X on Monday, December 22, 2025. His accusation stems from the government's alleged neglect of the railways, which has led to a series of issues, including weakened accountability post-separate Railway Budget discontinuation. The data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals a staggering 2.18 lakh deaths in railway accidents between 2014 and 2023, an unacceptably high number. Furthermore, only one of the 453 stations targeted for upgrade under the Amrit Bharat scheme has seen any significant progress.

The Congress opposition views the hike as a surreptitious attempt to burden the common public further, especially the elderly, who are already reeling under the withdrawal of senior citizen concessions. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported losses of Rs 2,604 crore in 2024, adding to the woes of the Indian Railways. The average speed of Vande Bharat trains, touted as high-speed, stands at 76 kmph, falling far short of its marketed 160 kmph claims.

The Railway Ministry and the government, on the other hand, have defended the hike as nominal for longer journeys, aimed at generating revenue. They have explicitly exempted suburban and MST users to provide relief to daily commuters. However, the Congress opposition remains unconvinced, citing the pre-Budget timing and the lack of genuine efforts to address the underlying issues plaguing the railways.

The fare hike announcement is part of a broader context of railway modernization efforts, including the Amrit Bharat station scheme, which aims to upgrade 453 stations. However, the slow pace of progress, coupled with the lack of transparency, has led to widespread criticism. The separate Railway Budget, merged into the Union Budget in 2017, has reduced oversight, making it challenging to track the allocation and utilization of funds.

The implications of the hike are far-reaching, with long-distance non-AC and all AC travel set to bear the brunt of the 2 paise/km increase. This could potentially add to the passenger burdens, especially for seniors without concessions, who are estimated to bear an extra burden of Rs 8,913 crore. On the other hand, the railways stand to gain Rs 600 crore for operations and infrastructure.

As the nation prepares for the Union Budget, the opposition has highlighted the compounded effects of safety lapses, slow projects, and prior hikes on the affordability of rail travel for the common public. The fare hike, coupled with the lack of genuine efforts to address the underlying issues, has raised concerns about the government's priorities and its commitment to public welfare.

In a statement that echoes the sentiments of the Congress opposition, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera described the hike as "surreptitious." The National Herald and ANI have amplified Kharge's "loot" accusation and pre-Budget timing concerns, while the Economic Times has focused on the revenue estimate and structure without endorsing criticism. The issue, however, remains contentious, with the government and the opposition locked in a heated debate over the merits of the fare hike.

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the public will have to bear the brunt of the hike, which has been criticized for its lack of transparency and timing. The Modi government's decision to introduce the fare hike ahead of the Union Budget has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the motives behind the move.