Public misled about train fare hike: GMR

4 October 2018 11:22 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The General Manager Railways (GMR) yesterday said the public had been misled by the announcement made at a recent Cabinet meeting which had only referred to the increase of 15 per cent in train fares without explaining how it was calculated.

Speaking to the media GMR Dilantha Fernando said no details had been provided to the public except the increment at the Cabinet briefing which had caused much confusion among train commuters.

Accordingly, it was explained that the train-fare revision of 15 per cent was not on the current fare but based on the train fare charged per kilometre.

“Circulars for new ticket prices had already been sent to the main stations around the country and requested them to display three copies of ticket prices in substations situated between two main stations. The Station Masters (SMs) of main stations were told to calculate the train fares manually,” he said.

The GMR requests the public to make complaints to the counters if there were any issues in the ticket prices shown. The new fares should be displayed at each station for the benefit of commuters, it said.

Tickets needed for three months are in stock at every main station. It said new stocks of tickets would not be delivered to stations that had failed to sell all its train tickets. Several stocks of tickets with the revised prices had been sent for printing,” he said.

Since 1926 the calculation of train fares was done according to a certain formula.

“The previous fare charged per kilometre was Rs. 4.20 for the first class, Rs. 2.30 for second class and Rs.1.30 for a third class ticket. The 15 per cent increase has been calculated based on this fare for the three classes. Thereafter, if the fare when calculated, for example, comes to a sum which is between Rs.10.50 and Rs.14.50 it will be rounded up to Rs.15,” Mr. Fernando explained.

He said the fares have been rounded up to avoid the issuance of small change. When asked if this calculation method fair to commuters, he said the same procedure was adopted when ticket prices were last reviewed in 2008. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 8

Shama Thursday, 04 October 2018 12:21 PM

Increasing fares are ok but WHY NOT INCREASETHE FACILITIES

Harshana Thursday, 04 October 2018 12:44 PM

General Manager Railways - - Blaming others about mislead , show us any document on ur website or notice about far hike , no one do the investigation cause ur people also stay silently when mislead happens ,

Harini Thursday, 04 October 2018 12:53 PM

But wait for it, wait for it...

Unchikun Thursday, 04 October 2018 01:09 PM

In Sri Lanka we are misled on everything except death.

Sunil Thursday, 04 October 2018 01:28 PM

We thank the GMR regarding his frank comments. However, it must be mentioned that the not only were the public misled about the hike in train fares but they were kept almost totally in the dark about this sordid plot hatched by the minister of transport and the officials. Whatever explanations are given the increases in fares were almost always much more than 15% and as high as 60% in some instances. This is the way this miserable government taxes the common man to the maximum while the leaders are having a gala time at the expense of the public. Vote for them again? Never.

tissa Friday, 05 October 2018 05:43 AM

The fair between Dehiwala and Galle has been increased from Rs 95 to Rs125 for 3rd Class users. This is 31.57 % increase in this popular line used by office workers and general public. GMR should explain. The fair is not written or printed on the ticket or displayed publicly.his is Yahapalanaya Government robbing the people again and again.

Vernon Friday, 05 October 2018 08:20 AM

Rounding a sum is OK. But you either round up or down depending on the figure arrived at. If the new fare comes to 41.50 you do not round up to 45.00 but you round down to 40.00. But if the new fare is 43.50 then you round up to 45.00. It means you round the amount to the closest 5.00. Then it would be fair on both sides. These are basics.

Blair Friday, 05 October 2018 01:57 PM

ALL PREVIOUS REGIMES INVESTED ON ROLLING STOCK,ENGINES. SLEEPERS ETC ,BUT NON THOUGHT OF INVESTING IN TRAINING THE STAFF. THIS IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CGR.

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Public misled about train fare hike: GMR

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