Industrialists feel let down by govt:
Ludhiana:
The increase in railway fares by 14.2 per cent and in freight by 6.5 per cent has sent shock waves among the industry while also evoking strong resentment among other people, especially frequent travellers. One of the highest revenue earners after Jammu in Ferozepur division of the Northern Railway, Ludhiana generates annual revenue of more than Rs 150 crore with nearly 25,000 passengers travelling on the route.
Sharply reacting to the first unpopular decision of the NDA Government, Badish K. Jindal, president, Federation of Association of Small Industries of India (FASII), said the hike was contrary to the government’s claim to contain inflation and at this stage any more burden on the industry was undesirable. “Location disadvantage will render the industry based in Punjab (and Ludhiana) non-competitive,” he said, adding that things would not improve until the government decides to allow private participation in railways.
Mohinder Aggarwal, secretary, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, said it was a hasty decision. The Modi government should have undertaken an exercise to plug losses and explore alternative sources for revenue generation rather than putting additional financial burden on passengers, trade and industry. Chairman of Knitwear Club Vinod Thapar lambasted the government for increase in fares and freight. He said the input cost as well as transportation cost of finished goods would increase, which was bound to have a cascading effect on overall price line.
The people from different strata of society expressed their displeasure over the increase in fares. “Rail passengers will have to shell out more for travelling while prices of all other items will also go up due to the hike in freight rates,” said Ravinder Joshi, a sales executive with a private company.
While the railway authorities were still in the process of framing a new fare chart, it was stated that rail passengers will have to pay an upward of Rs 70 to travel in Shatabdi Express from the city to the national capital while fare in the sleeper class from Ludhiana to New Delhi will go up by around Rs 30.
The increase in railway fares by 14.2 per cent and in freight by 6.5 per cent has sent shock waves among the industry while also evoking strong resentment among other people, especially frequent travellers. One of the highest revenue earners after Jammu in Ferozepur division of the Northern Railway, Ludhiana generates annual revenue of more than Rs 150 crore with nearly 25,000 passengers travelling on the route.
Sharply reacting to the first unpopular decision of the NDA Government, Badish K. Jindal, president, Federation of Association of Small Industries of India (FASII), said the hike was contrary to the government’s claim to contain inflation and at this stage any more burden on the industry was undesirable. “Location disadvantage will render the industry based in Punjab (and Ludhiana) non-competitive,” he said, adding that things would not improve until the government decides to allow private participation in railways.
Mohinder Aggarwal, secretary, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, said it was a hasty decision. The Modi government should have undertaken an exercise to plug losses and explore alternative sources for revenue generation rather than putting additional financial burden on passengers, trade and industry. Chairman of Knitwear Club Vinod Thapar lambasted the government for increase in fares and freight. He said the input cost as well as transportation cost of finished goods would increase, which was bound to have a cascading effect on overall price line.
The people from different strata of society expressed their displeasure over the increase in fares. “Rail passengers will have to shell out more for travelling while prices of all other items will also go up due to the hike in freight rates,” said Ravinder Joshi, a sales executive with a private company.
While the railway authorities were still in the process of framing a new fare chart, it was stated that rail passengers will have to pay an upward of Rs 70 to travel in Shatabdi Express from the city to the national capital while fare in the sleeper class from Ludhiana to New Delhi will go up by around Rs 30.
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