Lok Sabha Question No. 201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Flexi Fare System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY, LALLU SINGH, FAIZAL P.P. MOHAMMED, K. C. VENUGOPAL, KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS, DINESH TRIVEDI, T.G. VENKATESH BABU, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY, DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, C. N. JAYADEVAN, RABINDRA KUMAR JENA, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## FLEXI FARE SYSTEM

## †201.  SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

MOHAMMED FAIZAL:

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN:

SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  introduction  of  flexi  fare  system  has  increased  the revenue of Railways and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  noted  that  flexi  fare  system  has adversely affected the passengers and there is a decline in passenger volume;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether objections have been raised regarding the introduction of such flexi fare and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  withdraw  this  system and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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. 201 BY SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY, SHRI LALLU SINGH, MOHAMMED FAIZAL, SHRI K.C.  VENUGOPAL,  PROF.  K.V.  THOMAS,  SHRI  DINESH  TRIVEDI,  SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G., SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS, SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN, SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN, SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA, SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL AND ADV. JOICE GEORGE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.11.2016 REGARDING  FLEXI  FARE  SYSTEM

(a):  Comparative  total  earnings  inclusive  of  additional  earnings  due  to flexi fare for the period 09.09.2016 to 31.10.2016 vis a vis 09.09.2015 to 31.10.2015 are approximately as under:-

| Period                                                            | 09.09.2015 to 31.10.2015   | 09.09.2016 to 31.10.2016   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Total earnings inclusive of additional earnings due to flexi fare | ` 530 crores               | ` 580 crores               |

(b)  &  (c):  No  inconvenience  to  the  passengers  has  been  caused  since only fares have been rationalised and no major changes have been made in  the  booking/cancellation  system.  Comparative  total  vacant  berth  in Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and  Duronto  trains  for  the  period  09.09.2016  to 31.10.2016 vis a vis 09.09.2015 to 31.10.2015 are as under:-

| Period                                                       |   09.09.2015 to 31.10.2015 | 09.09.2016 to 31.10.2016   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Total vacant berths in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains |                      12428 | 5871*                      |

*  22413/22414  Nizamuddin-Madgaon  Rajdhani  Express(which  was  not running during  09.09.2015 to 31.10.2015) has not been included in the above figures.

(d):  Representations/suggestions  including  from  Hon'ble  Members  of Parliament  for  withdrawal  of  Flexi  fare  system  and  also  appreciating introduction of flexi fare system have been received.

(e): At present, there is no proposal to withdraw the flexi fare system in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains since there has been substantial increase in the operating cost of the Railways over the past few years. *******