(a) whether it is a fact that there was low passenger occupancy in many trains including Shatabdi during COVID time;
(b) if so, the names of such trains;
(c) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to avoid low passenger occupancy in trains; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and by when, if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2715 BY SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.08.2021 REGARDING LOW PASSENGER OCCUPANCY
(a) and (b) Yes, Sir. The drop in the overall occupancy of all reserved trains including Shatabdi Express trains has been mainly due to the various restrictions & prevailing conditions during Covid-19 pandemic.
The list of trains having low occupancy is voluminous as on Indian Railways, demand pattern of reserved accommodation in trains varies over lean and peak periods and also the impact of Covid-19 restrictions was not uniform. However, the list of trains having average occupancy less than thirty percent during 2020-21 is appended.
(c) and (d) The drop observed is on account of Covid-19 pandemic during which people are mainly undertaking unavoidable/ important journeys.
******