Vijayawada: Train fares for the Krishna Pushkaralu will hurt pilgrims as sleeper charges have doubled.For travelling in a Pushkaralu special (Train 07740) from Secunderabad to Guntur, one has to pay Rs 375, while the fare on the same train from Secunderabad to Kakinada is Rs 395, only Rs 20 more.

The reason being shown by the Railways is that the Kakinada-bound travellers are not going to the Pushkaralu, i.e. they are not pilgrims. The South Central Railway is running 202 trains for the Krishna Pushkaralu. And there is a vast difference between the fares of South Central Railway and East Coast Railway.

Sleeper fares from Secunderabad to Guntur on Falaknuma Express in normal days are Rs 220, but during the Krishna Pushkaralu, SCR is charging Rs 375. Third AC fares are Rs 540 on normal days and Rs 1,025 during the Pushkaralu on the same train.

Second AC fare is Rs 740 on regular days and Rs 1,410 for the Pushkaralu.
During the Pushkaralu, 2nd AC fares from Secunderabad to Guntur are Rs 1,410, which is seven times the normal sleeper fare of Rs 220. Second AC fares are usually three times that of sleeper fares.

If booked over the Internet, the sleeper fares are around Rs 400 per ticket excluding 1.5 per cent bank charges. SCR is known to hike fares during festivals, said Mr Y.V.R. Subrahmanyam, member of the Railway Users’ Association.

During the Ayyappa season and even for Godavari Pushkaralu, the SCR had charged unusually more from pilgrims, he said. When the issue was brought to the notice of a SCR official in Vijayawada, he said that the RTC had increased fares by more than 50 per cent, compared to that, the train fares hadn’t been hiked much.