Lok Sabha Question No. 1571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Flexi Fare
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1571 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## FLEXI FARE

†1571.  SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways are charging double fare from the passengers in  the  name  of  Tatkal,  Premium  and  flexi  fares  and  thereby  putting extra burden on the pockets of passengers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons behind implementing such fare system;
- (c) whether the Railways is providing additional services in lieu of the aforesaid extra fare;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether it is not a fact that the Railways has increased the fares from the backdoor and if so, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

ANSWER ( 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.  1571  BY  SHRI  RAJESH  RANJAN  AND SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.12.2017 REGARDING FLEXI FARE

(a)&(b): The applicable fares for Tatkal Quota, Premium Tatkal quota and Flexi fare trains are as under:-

(i).  Tatkal  Quota:  Apart from basic fare Tatkal charge is levied  over and above the basic fare and is realised @ 10% of the basic fare for reserved second class and 30% of the basic fare for all other classes subject  to  minimum  and  maximum prescribed limit.  Other  applicable supplementary  charges  like  reservation  charge,  superfast  charge, Goods and Service Tax if applicable etc., are levied separately.

(ii). Premium Tatkal Quota: Under this scheme fare increases by 20% after each slab of 10% berths are sold subject to maximum three times of tatkal fare. Other applicable supplementary charges like reservation charge, superfast charge, Goods and Service Tax if applicable etc., are levied separately.

(iii).  Flexi  fare:  Under  this  scheme,  the  fare  increases  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 3 rd  AC class.  Flexi Fare is not applicable in 1 st  AC and Executive class.

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(c)&(d):  Provision  of  Tatkal  Quota  and  Premium  Tatkal  Quota  at  a small premium have been introduced to provide rail-users the facility of  travelling  at  short  notice  during  urgent  travel  requirement  on confirmed berths and to discourage normal passengers from availing the  quota.  These  services  are  providing  win-win  situation  for  both passengers who cannot plan their journey in advance or need to travel on emergency at short notice as well as Railways.

Further, Flexi Fare trains (Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains) are highly prestigious and popular trains with better facilities in terms of service, speed and punctuality of trains, etc.  These trains are given preference over other trains on the route.

Provision  of  additional  services  like  additional  facilities  at platforms, inside the train, betterment of other services like cleanliness etc, is an ongoing and continuous process.

(e):  No  increase  has  been  made  in  the  basic  fares  of  these  trains. Passengers  booking  their  ticket  early  are  availing  the  tickets  at normal fares.

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