No decision on passenger and freight fare hike, says Railway Board

Current Affairs
Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav has said no decision has been taken to increase passenger and freight fares.
On Thursday, Yadav had said the railways was in the process of “rationalising” its passengers and freight fares.
He told reporters here on Saturday the railways will work towards providing better facilities to its passengers and would run more trains.
“No decision has been taken to increase the passenger and freight fares. In the New Year, the Railway will try to give better facilities to its passengers and also focus on running of more trains,” Yadav said.
The railway board chairman further said that efforts are on to ensure that after next five years, passengers do not have to face difficulties due to waitlisted tickets. He also informed a private train operator is needed on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata rail sections.

"For this, private train operators will be invited and the necessary approval of the government has been obtained," he said....Read More

Govt to auction over 41 new coal blocks 'very shortly', says Prahlad Joshi

International News

The government plans to auction more than 41 new coal blocks "very shortly", Union minister Prahlad Joshi said on Wednesday.
He told the Lok Sabha that a number of important steps have been taken to augment and monitor coal dispatches to power plants.
In 2018-19, all commodities loading by the Indian Railways was 1,223.29 million tonnes, out of which coal loading was 605.82 MT, which is almost 50 per cent, the Coal and Mines minister said.
A committee, comprising coal and power secretaries, and Member (Traffic) of Railway Board reviews coal transportation and supply on a regular basis.
Responding to supplementary queries during the Question Hour, Joshi said, "we are going to auction more than 41 new coal blocks very shortly".

 He also said that coal production as well as demands are increasing in the country...Read More