Dhaka: The Railways Ministry has recommended train fare hike by 7.8 percent with effect from February next depending on approval by the Prime Minster.

‘The fare is being raised for maintaining the railway’s service standard. It’ll be tolerable for passengers as the fare hike rate is lower than those of other mode of vehicles,’ Railways Minister M Mazibul Hoque told reporters after inaugurating WiFi connectivity at the Rail Bhaban in Dhaka.

All the railway stations of the country like Kamalapur, Dhaka Cantonment and Chittagong stations will be brought under WiFi connectivity gradually, the minister said.

The ministry considers providing WiFi connectivity in train compartments in the future, Mazibul Hoque said.

Responding to a question at that time, Railways secretary M Firoz Salahuddin said the ministry has recommended 7.8 percent train fare hike in a bid to reduce Tk 1,000 core loss of the Railway department, not to make profit.

He said the train fares will be raised every year under a formula.

According to the formula, the ministry will raise train fares every year but its rate will be lower than 7.8 percent as recommended for the current year, Firoz said.