The Indian government pushed through a steep hike in rail fares, with passenger fees increasing by 14.2 per cent and freight rates by 6.5 per cent starting starting June 25. The last fare hike was in October 2013.
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The steep hike in rail passenger and freight fares was described the first dose of the “bitter medicine” by prime minister Narendra Modi needed to revive the Indian economy. Amit Dave / Reuters -
Analysts say the increase in passenger fares would raise consumer price inflation by around 10 basis points, while the freight hike would impact wholesale price inflation because the cost of transporting key goods would rise. Amit Dave / Reuters -
Protesters scuffle with police in Bhopal as they stop a passenger train during an action against the price hike. Sanjeev Gupta / EPA -
Indian trains are among the world's cheapest. A ticket on an overnight sleeper train running the roughly 1,400 kilometres between New Delhi and Kolkata, for example, can cost as little as 520 rupees. Amit Dave / Reuters -
Activists stop a passenger train in Bhopal during a protest against the price hike in railway fares. Sanjeev Gupta / EPA -
Activists shout slogans during a protest against the price hike in railway fares. Divyakant Solanki / EPA -
India's railways transport an estimated 25 million people each day. Sivaram V / Reuters -
The steep hike in rail passenger and freight fares was described the first dose of the “bitter medicine” by prime minister Narendra Modi needed to revive the Indian economy. Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters -
Activists shout slogans during a protest against the price hike in railway fares. Noah Seelam / AFP
In pictures: India hikes rail passenger and freight rates
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