Trinamool MP Mukul Roy to protest against hike in railway fare during Durga puja

KOLKATA: At a time when entire West Bengal will be celebrating Durga puja from Thursday (October 10), ruling Trinamool Congress will carry out it's political campaign against the Centre. Heavyweight party leader and MP, Mukul Roy will hold a rally at Sealdah railway station on Thursday to oppose the Centre's decision to increase railway fares. With the hike in railway fare, Calcuttans will have to pay extra money for using the Metro rail as the railway ministry has also increased it's fare.

Increased Metro Rail fare will be operational from October 18. The current minimum fare of Rs 4 will be Rs 5 from October 18.

Presently, a Metro Rail user can travel up to 5 kilometer by paying the minimum fare of Rs 4. But from October 18, one has to pay Rs 5 as minimum fare, but would be able to travel just 2 kilometer.

A senior Trinamool Congress leader told ET on Wednesday that "Metro Rail is by and large used by office goers and common people. They use this mode of communication everyday and they will have to pay extra money for using this railway. We will oppose the Centre's decision to increase the fare of Metro Rail."

Trinamool Congress official website on Wednesday announced that top party leader Mukul Roy, who is also a former railway minister, will hold a protest demonstration at the Sealdah station on Thursday.

"Roy's protest rally is just a beginning. We will go for state-wide movement against the hike in railway fare after the pujas. We don't want to disturb the common people during the puja days and that is why we are not going for any sort of agitation during the puja days," Trinamool Congress leader and party MLA Tapas Roy told ET on Wednesday.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has been opposing all policies and decisions of the Centre which she feels "anti-people" and the recent announcement of Delhi to hike railway fares has just added fuel to Mamata's tirade against the Centre. Bengal is likely to witness widespread agitation over the issue of railway fare hike.