Lok Sabha Question No. 1770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Increase in Fare
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JAGDAMBIKA PAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1770 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## INCREASE IN FARE

†1770. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  fares  have  been  increased  during  the last three years;
- (b)  if  so,  the  number  of  times  these  have  been  increased  along with the category-wise details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the time-limit to get waitlisted tickets cancelled on non-confirmation of seats along with the details of deduction, if any, in fare?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1770 BY SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2017 REGARDING INCREASE IN FARE

(a)  &  (b)  The  details  of  increase  in Passenger fares during the last three years are as under:-

In  2014-15,  Passenger  fares  for  all  classes  were  increased  from 25/6/2014  by  14.2%  inclusive  of  4.2%  on  account  of  Fuel  Adjustment Component  (FAC).  However,  there  was  no  increase  in  Second  Class (Ordinary) Suburban fares upto a distance of 80 kilometers.

During 2015-16, Passenger fares have not been increased. 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.

The  Flexi  fare  system  has  been  introduced  in  Rajdhani/Duronto  and Shatabdi trains from 09.09.2016. Under  this system, the base fare increases  by  10%  with  every  10%  of  berths  sold  subject  to  maximum prescribed limit of  1.5  times  in  classes  Second  Air  Conditioned,  Sleeper, Second Sitting (Reserved), Air Conditioned Chair Car and 1.4 times in Air Conditioned  3-Tier.  From  01.01.2017,  it  has  been  decided  to  allow  10% rebate in basic fare on vacant berths/ seats after preparation of first chart in  all  trains  including  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and  Duronto  trains  on  an experimental  basis  for  six  months.  Provision  of  Tatkal  quota  has  been reduced in flexi fare trains from maximum 30% to 10% of the total berths availability.  Apart  from  above,  from  20.12.2016 discounted  fare  has been offered for the passengers of Jaipur-Ajmer and Ajmer-Jaipur in 12015/12016 New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and for the passengers of Bengaluru City-Mysuru and Mysuru-Bengaluru City in 12007/12008 Chennai Central - Mysuru Shatabdi express on an experimental basis for a period of six months.

New trains like Humsafar Express, Tejas Express, Antyodaya Express and    Mahamana  Express  have  been  introduced  on  higher  fare  on  cost recovery basis.

(c) In case of wait-listed e-tickets on which status of all the passengers is on  waiting  list  even  after  preparation  of  reservation  chart,  names  of  all such passengers booked on that PNR (Passenger Name Record) is dropped from  the  reservation  chart  and  refund  of  fare  is  credited  to  the  account from  which  booking  transaction  took  place  after  deducting  clerkage charge.

For waitlisted I-tickets, such tickets are cancelled at the Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and thereafter refund claims have to be made online as per Refund Rule upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train. After that, refund amount after deducting clerkage charge  is  credited  to  the  account  from  which  booking  transaction  took place.

Moreover,  waitlisted  PRS  counter  tickets  are  cancelled  across  the reservation  counter  upto  half  an  hour  before  the  scheduled  departure  of the train and due refund amount after deducting clerkage charge is given across the reservation counter.

The rate of clerkage charge is ₹ 60 per passenger for all reserved class tickets.

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