"The hike in both passenger fare and freight rate is inevitable as the financial position of railways is not so good. However, the quantum of hike is yet to be finalised," a senior Railway Ministry official said.
Asked whether the hike will be announced in the Rail Budget, the official said, "One cannot rule out its possibility. But at the same time it is not necessary to announce the hike in the budget only. It could happen before or after the budget also."
The UPA government had left passenger fares unchanged in the interim railway budget in February ahead of the general elections, presenting a vote-on-account leaving the difficult job of managing the national transporter's weak finances to the next government.
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