Lok Sabha Question No. 37 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Extra Charging on Fares
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.37 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## EXTRA CHARGING ON FARES

†*37.  SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  is  fleecing  double  fare  from  passengers  in the name of tatkal, premium, flexi fare;
- (b) if so, whether additional services are being provided to passengers by  railways  in  lieu  of  the  above  extra  charge  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the reasons for introduction of said systems by the Government;
- (d) whether this is not a fare hike through the back door; and
- (e) if not, the reasons for introduction of such extra charging on fares?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 37 BY SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  12.12.2018  REGARDING  EXTRA  CHARGING  ON FARES

- (a)  to  (e):  Tatkal  scheme  has  been  started  in  December  1997.    This enables passengers to book confirmed tickets one day before departure.    Apart  from  basic  fare,  10%  of  basic  fare  in  second  class (reserved) and 30% of basic fare in other classes, subject to maximum and minimum limit, is levied. In Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains, tatkal fare is 1.5 times of basic fare.
2.  With  effect  from  01.10.2014,  50%  of  the  Tatkal  accommodation  in selected popular trains has been earmarked as Premium Tatkal quota. For the premium Tatkal tickets, the fare increases by 20% after each slab of 10% berths are sold subject to maximum three times of tatkal fare.
3.  Flexi  fare  scheme  has  been  introduced  in  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  & Duronto trains w.e.f 09.09.2016 and later in Humsafar train in a different format. 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.    No  change  has  been  made  in  the  fares  of  1 st   AC  and Executive class.
4. However, Flexi Fare scheme in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains has been rationalized as under:-
- (i). Discontinuation of Flexi fare scheme from 15 trains for full year and from 32 trains during pre defined lean period of 3 months (February, March & August).
- (ii). Maximum cap of flexi fare scheme has been reduced to 1.4 times in all flexi fare applicable classes.

(iii).  Graded  discount  has  been  introduced  in  flexi  fare  trains  and Humsafar trains, where class-wise occupancy is less than 60%, 4 days prior to scheduled departure of the train as under:-

| Occupancy   | Discount         |
|-------------|------------------|
| Up to 70%   | 20% on last fare |
| 70 to 80%   | 10% on last fare |
| Above 80%   | Nil              |

The above changes have been implemented w.e.f. 15-03-2019 on an experimental basis for 6 months for which booking has already been started.

5.  Provision  of  additional  facilities  to  passengers  are  ongoing  and continuous process. Moreover, recently Project Swarn has been launched  with  the  objective  of  significantly  improving  the  passenger experience across 9 dimensions which include coach interiors, toilets, on-board cleanliness, staff behavior, catering, linen, punctuality, security, on-board entertainment, real-time feedback. 14 Rajdhani and 15 Shatabdi trains have been selected under this project.

The cost of additional services is borne by Railways and the same is  not  being  transferred  to  the  passengers.    Earnings  from  Flexi  Fare scheme  can  offset  the  cost  being  borne  by  Railways  in  providing improved services.

Further, new  types of coaches  with better facilities have been introduced over Indian Railways.

6.  The  concept  of  tatkal  quota,  premium  tatkal  quota  and  flexi  fare schemes has been introduced based on the demand pattern on popular trains. Total number of trains having Tatkal quota and Premium Tatkal quota facility during 2017-18 were on an aveage 2857 and 904 per day respectively.

Flexi fare scheme is confined to Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and also in Humsafar trains in a different format.

7. Indian Railways have given concessions/discounts as under:-

- (i).  10%  discount  in  basic  fare  on  vacant  berths/seats  booked  after preparation of first chart.

(ii).  Discounted  fare  in  Shatabdi  trains  over  4  sections  viz.  BengaluruMysuru, Mysuru-Bengaluru, Ahmedabad-Vadodara and Jalpaiguri-Malda Town sections.

(iii).  To  facilitate  second  class  passengers,  sleeper  class  coaches running vacant have been de-reserved on a particular section as second class unreserved on second class fare.

(iv). Further Graded discount has been introduced in Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and Humsafar trains as mentioned in para 4 above.

*****