CSTM-PUNE is now 169 KMS
They say that PVL-KJT (through Chikale, Mohope and Chowk) is going to be operational soon for passenger services. They might use the BSR-DIVA diesel rake for the same. But what this will mean is that effectively CSTM-GTBN-CLA-VSH-BEPR-PNVL-KJT-MHC-PUNE is 169 KMS instead of the standard CST-KYN-KJT-MHC-PUNE which is 192 KMS. In any case old IR only presents what is known as "Chargeable distances" as against "Actual distances". What this means is that though your train travels only 5 KMS from say A to B, you see the A to B distance as 8 KMS, and likewise you pay for travelling 8 KMS. Even the milestones on the ground reflect only chargeable distances. Its only when you walk down to B from A, with your old school 12 inch scale in hand, that you will realise that you went only 5 KMS. The fare table is correct, so you dont have any reason to beleive that you are being gypped. Only that the original premise was wrong. You travelled only 5 KMS and not 8 KMS. Chargeable distances are supposed to recover additional costs such as infrastructure etc. And perhaps filling up a huge number of pockets, and at the same time depleting yours. Good examples are the routes on Konkan Railways.