Lok Sabha Question No. 3055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Increase in Fare
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: TAMRADHWAJ SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3055 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## INCREASE IN FARE

† 3055.  SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has increased/amended passenger fares and freight rates including monthly seasonal ticket fares;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the category-wise reasons therefor;
- (c) the estimated revenue likely to be earned as a result of increase in passenger fares/freight rates; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve passenger services and amenities and ensure timely completion of pending projects?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3055 BY SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  14.03.2018  REGARDING  INCREASE  IN FARE

(a)  The  passenger  fares  and  freight  rates  including  monthly  seasonal ticket have not been increased since 25.06.2014. However, the minimum chargeable passenger fare for Second Class Non-suburban services has been increased from ₹ 5 to ₹ 10 to bring it at par with the rate of platform tickets from 22.11.2015.

- (b) & (c) Do not arise.

(d) Indian Railways has more than 8500 Stations. It has always been the endeavour of the Railways to provide adequate amenities to the passengers at the stations. Certain amenities are provided at the time of construction  of  new  stations  based  on  anticipated  volume  of  traffic. Amenities  are  further  augmented  from  time  to  time  with  growth  in passenger  traffic  handled  at  stations,  on  the  basis  of  the  need  felt, expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds.

In the recent past, Indian Railways have taken various steps to improve passenger services and facilitate, some of which are given below.

## At stations:

- i. Lifts  and  Escalators at  the  stations  for  facilitating  movement  across platforms.

- ii. Battery  Operated  Vehicles  for  carrying  passengers  before/after  the train journey, especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
- iii. Yatri Mitra Sewa for passengers requiring wheel-chair assistance.
- iv. Well appointed Retiring Rooms, Waiting Halls and Executive Lounges to relax for passengers during transit.
- v. Wi-fi facility at 127 important stations on IR.

## In Reservations and during travel:

- i. Introduction of the Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme known as 'VIKALP' to give option to waitlisted passengers to shift to alternate train having vacant accommodation.
- ii. Provision of facility to physically  handicapped  persons  to  book reserved tickets online.
- iii. Automatic  refund  of  confirmed/  Reservation  Against  Cancellation (RAC) / e-tickets on cancellation of trains.
- iv. Enhancement of Senior Citizen Quota as well as quota earmarked for physically handicapped persons.
- v. Provision of facility to book available accommodation after preparation  of  first  reservation  chart  through  internet  as  well  as across any computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter upto preparation of second reservation chart.

- vi. Acceptance  of  all  International  Credit/Debit  cards  for  booking  of  etickets  through  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation (IRCTC) website.
- vii. The passengers having confirmed/RAC/Waitlisted PRS counter tickets may  cancel  the  same  through  IRCTC  website  (www.irctc.co.in)  or through  139  within  the  prescribed  time  limit  and  the  refund  amount maybe  collected  across  PRS  counter  on  surrendering  the  original ticket.
- viii. Establishment  of  Yatri  Ticket  Suvidha  Kendras  for  issuing  of  tickets through public private partnership for establishment and operation of computerised  Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS)-cum  Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) terminals.
- ix. Commencement of concierge services with facility for online booking of  wheelchairs  through  IRCTC  website  at  New  Delhi  and  23  other stations.
- x. Provision of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines to facilitate purchase of unreserved journey tickets.
- xi. Commissioning of online booking of retiring room at over 490 Railway stations.

Provision of enhanced passenger amenities in train coaches is a continual endeavor of the Indian Railways (IR).

- i. Some of the policy decisions taken in this regard are:
- a) Provision of cushioned seats in General Second class coaches.
3. b)
4. Provision of bottle holder in Non-AC Sleeper Class coaches.
- c) Provision of dust bins in Non-AC coaches.
- d) Provision of mugs with chain in Non-AC coaches.
- e) Provision of Health Faucets in AC as well as Non-AC Sleeper class coaches, etc.
8. IR  has  also  planned  to  improve  the  interior  of  the  Integral  Coach Factory  (ICF)  design  coaches.  New  interiors  with  more  pleasing colours,  aesthetically  designed  fittings,  paneling,  improved  toilets, etc.  will  be  provided  in  the  existing  coaches  by  refurbishing  them during  Mid  Life  Rehabilitation  (MLR).  Work  in  700  such  Model  rake coaches is being progressively carried out, out of which more than 100
- ii. Model rake coaches have already been turned out.
- iii. Various premium  services like Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti, which have improved passenger amenities, have also been introduced in service.

- iv. IR  has  launched  Project  Swarn  with  the  objective  of  significantly improving  the  passenger  experience.  In  total,  14  Rajdhani  and  15 Shatabdi trains will be covered.
- v. For  the  assistance  of  visually  impaired  travelers,  Integrated  Braille signages,  i.e  signages  superimposed  with  Braille  scripts,  are  being provided in the newly manufactured coaches of IR.  Retrofitment of the same in existing coaches has also been taken up in a phased manner.

In  addition  to  above,  to  cater  the  needs  of  passengers,  Indian  Railway introduces new services and extends/increase the frequency of existing services. Efforts are made to speed-up train services and augment them, subject to operational feasibility and commercial justification. These are on-going  process  on  Indian  Railway.  Further,  to  meet  the  extra  rush  of passengers during festival/holidays special trains are operated and extra coaches are also attached in trains.

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