Tamil Nadu Congress workers stage protest against rail fare hike

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress today staged statewide protests demanding rollback of the recent hike in railway fares announced by the Centre.

TNCC president BS Gnanadesikan led the protests in Chennai in which senior leaders like former Union Minister GK Vasan participated.

Vasan later told reporters that the recent hike had affected the common man and therefore Centre should withdraw the price revision. The Congressmen were staging protests across the state pressing this demand, he added.

The BJP-led NDA government had recently hiked passenger fares by 14.2 per cent and freight charges by 6.5 per cent. However, in a relief to commuters, the government later announced that the 14.2 per cent hike will not apply to second class suburban travel up to 80 km.