Davangere, Karnataka | December 26, 2025
In a pointed critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday dared state BJP leaders to raise their voices against the Central government's decision to hike railway passenger fares, accusing them of maintaining a conspicuous silence on an issue that directly impacts ordinary citizens.
Speaking to reporters here in Davangere during a brief interaction, Siddaramaiah highlighted the financial strain the fare revision imposes on commuters, particularly daily wage earners, students, and small traders who rely heavily on affordable rail travel. "The Centre has raised train travel fares, but leaders of the BJP in Karnataka are silent on an issue that directly affects ordinary citizens," he remarked, urging the opposition to hold the Union government accountable rather than targeting the state administration.
The fare hike, effective from today, marks the second revision by Indian Railways in 2025 and applies primarily to long-distance trains and air-conditioned (AC) classes. According to the Ministry of Railways, the adjustments aim to strike a balance between passenger affordability and the financial sustainability of the network. Specific changes include:
- In Second Class Ordinary: An increase of Rs 5 for distances between 216 km and 750 km, Rs 10 for 751–1,250 km, Rs 15 for 1,251–1,750 km, and Rs 20 for journeys exceeding 1,751 km.
- Similar incremental hikes for AC classes, with the objective of funding infrastructure upgrades and operational costs amid rising inflation.
Siddaramaiah's remarks come amid ongoing political sparring between the ruling Congress and the BJP in Karnataka, where the opposition has frequently criticized the state government over local issues like metro fare adjustments earlier this year. The Chief Minister drew a sharp contrast, noting that BJP leaders were quick to protest a Bengaluru Metro fare revision in February—attributing it to the Congress despite it being the first such increase in eight years—but have shown no such urgency regarding national-level decisions like this railway hike.
This is not the first time Siddaramaiah has targeted the BJP on economic policies. In July, following an earlier railway fare adjustment, he demanded an immediate rollback, accusing the Centre of double standards and burdening the common man unnecessarily. At that time, he mocked Karnataka BJP leaders for their reticence, a theme he echoed today by challenging them to "insist on a rollback" in Parliament or public forums.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from senior BJP figures in Karnataka, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai or Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, who has previously weighed in on transport-related matters. The state BJP unit has, however, maintained that national economic decisions are beyond state purview and has focused its recent criticisms on the Congress government's handling of drought relief and urban infrastructure.
Railway officials have assured that the hikes are minimal and that concessions for senior citizens, students, and other vulnerable groups remain intact. Nonetheless, passenger rights groups and opposition voices across the country have called for a review, arguing that the changes could exacerbate travel costs in an already inflation-hit economy.
Siddaramaiah, who is scheduled to travel to New Delhi later this week for official engagements, used the opportunity to reaffirm the state government's commitment to subsidizing public transport where possible, including recent initiatives to cap bus fares for women and farmers.
The development underscores deepening partisan divides ahead of key legislative sessions in 2026, with transport affordability emerging as a flashpoint in voter discourse.
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