Changes in Railway passenger fare and reservation rules

Changes in Railway passenger fare and reservation rules

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 2357

ANSWERED ON 04.08.2017

Changes in passenger fare and reservation rules

2357       Shri Vivek K. Tankha

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Railways have changed rules pertaining to passenger fare and reservation since the financial year2014-15, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether any study had been conducted by the Ministry before bringing about such changes?

ANSWER                 

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2357 BY SHRI VIVEK K. TANKHA ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 04.08.2017 REGARDING CHANGES IN PASSENGER FARE AND RESERVATION RULES

(a) & (b) There has been no increase in Passenger fare since 2014-15 except the following:

1. Platform ticket rate has been increased from Rs.5 to Rs. 10 w.e.f. 01.04.2015
2. The minimum chargeable passenger fare for Second Class Non-suburban services has been increased from Rs.5 to Rs.10 from 22.11.2015 to bring it at par with the rate of Platform tickets.

This has resulted in the passenger fares remaining much below the cost of providing these services. Historically, the tariff policy on Indian Railways has been to keep passenger fares low especially in the lower classes so that even the poorest segment of the people can travel by rail. Moreover, as the operating cost of running of passenger services is increasing year after year resulting in adverse impact on passenger segment, passenger segment is being cross subsidized by the freight segment.

Evaluation of various alternatives relating to rationalization of passenger fare is an ongoing process. To improve the passenger earnings, decrease in the recurring loss in passenger business and in order to generate additional revenues from passenger segment and reduce cross-subsidization from freight following measures have been taken:

i. Introduction of Flexi Fare system in higher category of trains i.e. Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains w.e.f.09.09.2016. Under this scheme, the fare increase by 10% with every 10% of berths sold subject to maximum limit of 1.5 times in classes Second AC, Sleeper, Second sitting (reserved), AC Chair Car and 1.4 times in Third AC. No changes have been made in the fare of First AC & Executive Class.

An interim review of the flexi fare system has been made and the following changes have been made effective from 20.12.2016:

a.) 10% rebate in basic fare on vacant berths/seats after preparation of first chart in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.

b.) Provision of Tatkal quota has been reduced in flexi fare train from maximum 30% to 10 % of the total available berths.

c.) Discounted fare has been offered for the passengers of Jaipur-Ajmer and Ajmer Jaipur in Train No 12015/12016 New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi and for the passengers of Bengaluru City-Mysuru and Mysuru-Bengaluru City in 12007/12008 Chennai Central- Mysuru Shatabdi Express.

ii.) In view of special attempts/ arrangements made for running of special train services during peak period depending on the demand pattern, Suvidha trains have been introduced on variable fare structure.

iii.)  Humsafar Express, Tejas Express, Antyodaya Express and Mahamana Express have been introduced on higher fare on cost recovery basis.

iv.) However, such increase in fare is limited to only certain categories of trains and limited passengers.

v.) Advance Reservation Period was increased from 60 days to 120 days with effect from 01.04.2015.