Rail fare hike: is it a risky political gamble for the Congress?

It was the politically incorrect decision no one was willing to take for ten years, but finally the Congress-led UPA government has hiked passenger fares on trains across the board to raise Rs 6600 crores, which they say will be used for safety and infrastructure. The opposition and even some UPA allies maybe unhappy, but economists say it's an important step as the railways has seen only increasing losses in the last 10 years now, which is at a staggering Rs 25000 crores.