Question : FACILITIES TO UNRESERVED PASSENGERS

(a) whether the number of passengers travelling on unreserved tickets are more among the total number of railway passengers;

(b) if so, the break of the number of railway passengers travelling on reserved and unreserved tickets;

(c) whether the Railways are comparatively benefited more by the unreserved passengers than the reserved passengers;

(d) if so, the comparative data in this regard;

(e) the expenditure incurred to provide facilities to the unreserved passengers by the Railways during 2005-06 and 2006-07;

(f) whether any scheme has been formulated by the Railways to provide more facilities to the unreserved passengers; and

(g) if so, the details thereof alongwith funds earmarked for the purpose?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI R. VELU )

(a) to (g): A statement is attached.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.322 BY SHRI HANSRAJ G. AHIR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.11.2006 REGARDING FACILITIES TO UNRESERVED PASSENGERS.

(a): Yes, Sir,

(b): As per the latest available data, approximately 6.5 lakh passengers travel by reserved tickets and 164 lakh passengers on unreserved tickets on an average daily basis.

(c)&(d): No, Sir. Railways incur more losses on unreserved segment of traffic. Although, Indian Railways do not work out the profitability separately for passengers travelling on reserved and unreserved tickets, class-wise profitability analysis of passenger services is worked out which reflects losses in second class ordinary traffic (fully unreserved), suburban traffic (fully unreserved) and second class Mail/Express traffic (partially unreserved).

(e) to(g): Separate data of expenditure incurred on facilities provided to unreserved and reserved passengers is not maintained. However, the expenditure incurred under Plan Head `Passenger Amenities` during 2005-06 (provisional) is Rs.256.23 crores. However, an amount of Rs.353.20 crores have been allotted for Passenger Amenities in the Budget Estimates for 2006-07 and the expenditure against this allotment incurred to end of September, 2006 is Rs.115.73 crores. Recently Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) has been introduced for the convenience of unreserved passengers. Works relating to provision of UTS at about 800 stations in Indian Railways and installation of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines at 200 locations in Mumbai area have been sanctioned in the budget for 2006-07 at an estimated cost of Rs.112 crores.