Question : Decrease in Passengers due to High Fares

(a) whether it is a fact that there was degrowth of 2.7% in the number of passengers during September, 2016 to July, 2017 despite availability of higher number of berths/seats;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether it is also true that airfares were cheaper than the fares of a large number of railway routes and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there was a suggestion for review and fine tuning of various fare related schemes, so that not only more revenue is earned but also the number of passengers is increased; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 522 BY DR. K. GOPAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.02.2019 REGARDING DECREASE IN PASSENGERS DUE TO HIGH FARES

(a): No, Madam. There has been an increase of 1.55% in total number of passengers booked during the period from September 2016 to July 2017 as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

(b): Does not arise.

(c): Railways and Airlines are different modes of transport system, which are not comparable in terms of volume as well as convenience. The air fares may or may not be cheaper than some of the selected trains’ fare. There is difference even in fares for different airlines and also for the same airline for different services at different timings. Hence, fares of Indian Railways are not comparable with the fares of Airlines.

(d) & (e): Based on the feedback from different quarters, a committee was constituted to review the Flexi Fare scheme. Further based on the committee’s recommendations, the matter has been examined and it has been decided to rationalise flexi fare as under:-

(i) Discontinuation of Flexi Fare scheme from 15 trains for full year and from 32 trains during pre defined lean period of 3 months (February, March & August)

(ii) Maximum cap of Flexi Fare scheme has been reduced to 1.4 times in all Flexi Fare applicable classes

(iii) Graded discount has been introduced in Flexi Fare trains and Humsafar trains, where class-wise occupancy is less than 60%, 4 days prior to scheduled departure of the train as under:-

Occupancy Discount

Up to 70% 20% on last fare
70 to 80% 10% on last fare
Above 80% Nil


The above have been implemented for the journey commencing on or after 15.03.2019.
*****