Lok Sabha Question No. 223 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Flexi Fare scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU, ANJU BALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 223 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## FLEXI FARE SCHEME

- *223.  SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether after the implementation of the Flexi Fare scheme, trains are running with a large number of vacant seats, and a number of complaints  have  been  received  against  the  high  price  under  the scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the status of occupancy rate of the Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Humsafar and Duronto Express trains since the introduction of flexi fares, month and train-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has recently formed a committee to review the flexi fare system in trains by comparing the prices with that of other modes of transport and if so, the details thereof including the terms of reference of the committee;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  reduce  the  prices  of  rail tickets during non-peak seasons/days and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard so far?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL

)

## ANSWER SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 223 BY SHRI B. SRIRAMULU AND SHRIMATI ANJU  BALA  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.01.2018 REGARDING FLEXI FARE SCHEME

(a)&(b): Occupancy  of the trains varies during peak, non-peak, festivals  seasons,  special  occasions  and  weekends  etc.  Therefore, sometimes the trains run with higher occupancy (more than the berth potential) and sometimes during non-peak times some berths remain vacant. Train-wise data is voluminous. However, month-wise average occupancy of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains during the period from 9 th  September, 2016 to 30 th  November, 2017 are as under:-

| Month           | Occupancy (in %)   | Occupancy (in %)   | Occupancy (in %)   |
|-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|                 | Rajdhani           | Shatabdi           | Duronto            |
| September, 2016 | 78.07              | 66.70              | 80.38              |
| October, 2016   | 90.50              | 73.17              | 89.04              |
| November, 2016  | 95.71              | 74.00              | 94.61              |
| December, 2016  | 97.07              | 74.54              | 96.45              |
| January, 2017   | 90.65              | 71.19              | 91.00              |
| February, 2017  | 91.47              | 72.36              | 89.82              |
| March, 2017     | 91.56              | 72.08              | 87.71              |
| April, 2017     | 101.55             | 77.75              | 97.55              |
| May, 2017       | 110.27             | 81.92              | 108.26             |
| June, 2017      | 107.06             | 81.72              | 100.58             |
| July, 2017      | 84.59              | 67.64              | 81.96              |
| August, 2017    | 79.02              | 66.23              | 81.57              |
| September, 2017 | 83.27              | 67.58              | 81.42              |
| October, 2017   | 95.42              | 73.24              | 94.17              |
| November, 2017  | 93.20              | 71.26              | 91.39              |

First  Humsafar  trains  have  been  introduced  w.e.f.  16.12.2016.    The month-wise average occupancy of Humsafar trains  during the period from 16 th  December, 2016 to 30 th  November, 2017 is as under:-

| Month           |   % Occupancy of Humsafar trains |
|-----------------|----------------------------------|
| December, 2016  |                            75    |
| January, 2017   |                            70.8  |
| February, 2017  |                            77.17 |
| March, 2017     |                            69.17 |
| April, 2017     |                            88.26 |
| May, 2017       |                           103.17 |
| June, 2017      |                            90.39 |
| July, 2017      |                            60.18 |
| August, 2017    |                            57.05 |
| September, 2017 |                            53.32 |
| October, 2017   |                            73.25 |
| November, 2017  |                            68.67 |

The requests from different quarters including from Hon'ble Members of Parliament have been received for review of the flexi Fare system.

(c): Yes, Madam. A committee has been constituted to review the flexi fare system. The terms of reference of the committee is to examine all options and recommend best option keeping in mind passengers and Railways interest. The committee has been mandated to examine the following issues:

Impact of implementation of flexi fare in its current form with respect to:

- (i) Impact on Revenue generated for Railways.
- (ii) Impact on Passenger in terms of their choice of railway as means of transport (with increased fare).

- (iii) Competitiveness of flexi fare viz-a-viz other means of transport.
- (iv) Amendment/modification if any in
-  Flexibility  of  rates  in  peak  and  lean  season/week  days  and weekend/festival season.
-  'Add on' if any to be provided with flexi fare for better patronage of the scheme like loyalty points/deferred benefits etc.
-  Any other aspects deemed fit by the committee.
- (v) Fare of special trains like Humsafar etc. also to be reviewed.
- (vi) Implementability of suggestions.
- (d)  &  (e):  To  improve  the  occupancy  of  all  trains  including  Rajdhani, Shatabdi  and  Duronto  trains,  the  following  discount/rebate  in  fare schemes have been offered:-
- (i)  10%  rebate  in  basic  fare  is  given  on  vacant  berths/seats  booked after preparation of first chart in all trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.
- (ii)  Discounted fare has been offered for the passengers of Bengaluru City-Mysuru and Mysuru-Bengaluru City sections in 12007/12008 Chennai  Central-Mysuru  Shatabdi  Express  and  for  the  passengers  of New Jalpaiguri-Mada Town in 12042 New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Shatabdi Express.

Further  review  in  the  passenger  fare  structure  is  an  ongoing and continuous process.

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