(a) whether it is a fact that growth rate of passengers
earnings has not been commensurate with the growth rate of
passengers ;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps taken or being taken by the Government to
attract more passengers and to plug the leakage of revenue
through rampant corruption in passenger related areas; and
(d) the strategy chalked out by the Government to break the
nexus of corrupt railway officials, touts and agents ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R.VELU)
(a) & (b) The growth rate in number of passengers and that
in passenger earnings, generally do not tally as growth in
number of passengers shows the numerical increase whereas
the earnings depend upon a number of factors viz. the
increase in the distance travelled by the passengers, the
increase in type of passengers like suburban/non suburban or
lower class/upper class etc.
(c) Following steps have been taken to plug the leakage of
revenue in passenger related areas: -
i) To improve the ticket dispensation new schemes
like Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS),
reservation through internet, reservation through
mobile phones, e-ticketing have been introduced.
ii) Additional seating capacity in trains is being
generated by introducing additional trains and by
changing the profile of trains through Passenger
Profile Management (PPM) project.
iii) The load of patronised trains is being enhanced to
the maximum.
iv) Additional coaches are being attached to clear waiting list.
v) Innovative ticket checking strategies such as
setting up of “intensive check posts†at divisions
and “nominated hour ticket checking†by Railway
officers have been introduced.
vi) Regular intensive drives are conducted by
mobilizing large number of ticket checking staff
in association with Police, Magistrates.
vii) Penalty for ticket less traveling has also been
enhanced from Rs.50 to Rs.250 w.e.f. 1st July 2004
which has a deterrent effect on ticket less
traveling.
(d) Besides conducting surprise checks and imposing
punishment in substantiated cases, railway employees holding
sensitive posts are transferred periodically to break the
nexus.