Question : Discount on Vacant Berths

(a) the quantum of loss incurred in a year by Railways on account of vacant berths in the trains;
(b) whether the Railways plans to introduce discount on vacant seats/berths after the preparation of charts in all trains;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the objective behind the move and the mechanism worked out for this purpose;

(d) whether earlier offer of similar discounts on vacant berths in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains on trial basis has been successful and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other steps taken by the Government to provide more facilities to train passengers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a): Occupancy of the trains varies during peak, non-peak, festivals seasons, special occasions and weekends etc. Therefore, sometimes the trains run with higher occupancy (more than the berth potential) and sometimes during non-peak times some berths remain vacant. Therefore, loss due to vacant berths in trains cannot be quantified. However, the average occupancy of all reserved accommodation on Indian Railways during 2015-2016 was 101% which has gone upto 102% in 2016-17 upto December, 2016.

(b) & (c): Some passengers plan their journey at last moment and have the option to travel through different modes of transport. Therefore, to promote such passengers to avail train services in which berths are vacant after the preparation of first chart, w.e.f. 01.01.2017, 10% rebate in basic fare on vacant berths/seats after preparation of first chart is given in the reserved class of all trains.

(d): W.e.f. 20.12.2016, 10% rebate in basic fare on vacant berths/seats after preparation of first chart is given in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains on an experimental basis for six months. No assessment has been made till date.
(e): Apart from above, w.e.f. 20.12.2016 discounted fare has been offered for the passengers of Jaipur-Ajmer and Ajmer-Jaipur in 12015/12016 New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and for the passengers of Bengaluru City-Mysuru and Mysuru- Bengaluru City in 12007/12008 Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi Express.


Further, Coaches for passenger services are provided with a certain level of facilities as per the prescribed norms. It is continual endeavour of Indian Railways to provide more facilities to train passengers.
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