Bhubaneswar, April 2: Train passengers and the general public have opposed the hike in platform ticket price.

People blame it on railway authorities for raising the prices while not providing basic amenities or maintaining the platform. But, the railway officials claimed that the ticket price had been raised to decongest and manage the crowd at the platforms during peak hours.

The platform ticket that used to cost Rs 5 was hiked to Rs 10 yesterday. Even some political parties staged protest at the platforms and resorted to rail roko for a brief period today.

"The railway knows only how to collect revenue, and they find out ways to extract it from the public. First, they should provide all the basic amenities at platforms and then demand money. There is no safety machinery or proper security arrangement at platforms. Then why should we pay these extra bucks?" said Rupali Roy, relative of a railway passenger.

Sources in the East Coast Railway said that on an average, around 4,000 platform tickets were sold daily at Bhubaneswar railway station.

An official said anyone, caught roaming inside the platform without possessing a valid ticket, was punishable under the Railway Act, which amounted from a minimum fine of Rs 500 to a maximum of Rs 1,000 and jail terms up to six months or both.

People, however, are of the view that the authorities should concentrate on making their journey safe and maintaining the platform. They complained that the luggage scanners installed at the railway station were not working properly. Even the body scanners have not been in use till there is a threat perception.

"The authorities must try to work on the security aspects than increasing the platform ticket rates. Besides, beggars and hawkers should be removed from the platforms," said Swayam Satpathy, a city resident.

A railway official said the decision to hike the ticket price had been taken all over the country. He said many people roamed on the platforms, creating problem for the security personnel as well as making it difficult to maintain cleanliness.

The railway's chief public relation officer J.P. Mishra said the hike in platform ticket price was a step to control the unnecessary crowd and decongest the area. "This is not for revenue collection. Besides, better security can be ensured if crowd is regulated. The cleanliness can be maintained properly," said Mishra.

Sources said that in near future, boundary walls would fortify the stations.