Congress workers protest against the proposed train fare hike at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai.

Two PILs filed in the Bombay High Court have challenged the steep hike in suburban railway fares announced by the Centre last week.Former journalist Ketan Tirodkar has filed one petition while Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, a consumers' organisation, has filed the other.Mr Tirodkar's PIL was today mentioned before the division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka which would hear it tomorrow. The other one would be mentioned tomorrow.Both PILs seek a stay on the suburban fare hike which is expected to come into effect from June 25. The respondents are Union of India (through Principal Secretary, Ministry of Railways) and the government of Maharashtra.Tirodkar contended that local trains are the lifeline of the people of the Mumbai metropolitan region as over 70 lakh commuters travel by them every day.According to the new rates, a Rs 85 monthly season ticket (II Class) will now cost Rs 150, while a Rs 190 monthly pass will be priced at Rs 480. The monthly season pass of Rs 795 for the first class will cost Rs 1,930. Likewise, a first class commuter with a monthly pass of Rs 1,740 will now have to shell out Rs 2,120 more for the same journey, it says.

It also points out that between 1996 to 2000, the fares for upper classes were hiked keeping 2nd class fares constant.The new rates would force commuters either not to travel by train or to travel without tickets, it says.