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Chennai: Be prepared to shell out a few additional bucks for your rail journey. The hike in tatkal and cancellation charges proposed in the recent rail budget came into effect on Monday. The upward revision, of tatkal charge in particular, is so high that it can create a deep hole in your pocket.For instance, a class-II sleeper ticket booked in general quota on Coimbatore-bound Cheran Express or Madurai-bound Pandian Express will be Rs 275, while the same will cost Rs 365 if booked under tatkal quota. Tatkal charge for class-II sleeper ticket can be increased up to Rs 175 with Rs 90 being the minimum charge. The amount is even higher in air-conditioned classes tickets. The minimum and maximum tatkal charge for AC-2 tier and executive classes have been fixed at `300 and `400.The revised AC-2 tier tatkal ticket fare on New Delhi bound Tamil Nadu Express stands at Rs 2,105, against the Rs 1,745 in general quota. Likewise, a person traveling to Coimbatore in Cheran Express from Chennai in second AC would have to pay Rs 985 and Rs 1,295 if him/her were to travel on a general and tatkal quota ticket.Regular travelers like bank employee Gowri Raghavan of Tambaram are willing to pay the extra charge if only the railway ministry is willing to improve passenger amenities, particularly the condition of toilets. However, wage earners like Paruva­thamma who travels from her native Erode blames the government of being indifferent to their public agony. “Till now, we chose rail over train only because it was cheap. Now we have to reconsider,” she added. “Though the ministry claims that the revised fare will help eliminate touts, the truth is the government plans to mop up additional revenue indirectly,” says Mr Mohanram, member of zonal railway users consultative committee.