(a) whether the Government has restored all the train stoppages as per the pre pandemic time period;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether any such requests have been received from Karnataka and Maharashtra;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to restore the stoppages;
(e) whether the train fares have been increased after the Corona period; and
(f) if so, the time by which the fares are likely to be brought at the previous level?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d) Indian Railways have undertaken rationalization of time table in a scientific manner with the assistance of IIT-Bombay. The exercise has been undertaken inter alia to provide for better passenger safety by creating maintenance corridor blocks, minimizing conflicts in existing time table etc. The exercise inter alia included rationalization of stoppages. Accordingly, since November-2021, Mail/Express services are being operated with rationalized time table. Requests including from Hon’ble Members of Parliament have been received for providing stoppages as per pre-Covid-19 time table. Stoppages have been provided wherever these were found operationally and commercially feasible. Provision of additional stoppages is an on-going process and these are considered based on operational and commercial feasibility.
(e) and (f) There has been no fare revision during Covid-19 period.
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