Lok Sabha Question No. 1844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Flexi-Fare System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1844 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## FLEXI-FARE SYSTEM

1844. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to remove flexi-fare system in Rajdhani express;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  conducts  any  survey  with  passengers regarding quality of food provided by pantry car in Rajdhani express;
- (d) if so, the findings thereof and the action taken thereon; and
- (e) other measures being taken by the Government to improve quality of food provided in trains particularly in Rajdhani express?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( 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 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1844 BY SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING FLEXI-FARE SYSTEM

(a)  &  (b):  The  concept  of  flexi  fare  has  been  introduced  in  Rajdhani, Shatabdi  &  Duronto  trains  with  effect  from  09.09.2016.  Under  this scheme,  the  fare  increases  by  10%  with  every  10%  of  berths  sold subject to maximum limit of 1.4 times in classes Second AC, Sleeper, Second sitting (reserved), AC Chair Car and 3 rd  AC class.  Flexi fare is not  applicable  in  the  fare  of  1 st   AC  and  Executive  class  of  Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.

Based on the feedback from different quarters a committee was constituted  to  review  the  flexi  fare  scheme.  Further  based  on  the committee's  recommendations  the  matter  has  been  examined  and Flexi  fare  scheme  has  been  rationalized  w.e.f  15.03.2019  on  an experimental basis as under:-

(i).  Discontinuation  of  flexi  fare  scheme  (Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and Duronto  trains)  from  15  trains  fully  and  from  32  trains  during  pre defined  lean  period  of  3  months  (February,  March  &  August).  Out  of these,  during  pre-defined  lean  period  flexi  fare  has  been  withdrawn from 5 Rajdhani trains.

(ii). Maximum cap of flexi fare scheme has been reduced to 1.4 times from 1.5 times earlier in all flexi fare applicable classes.

(iii). Graded discount has been introduced in flexi fare trains including Rajdhani 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              |

Passenger  fare  in  most  of  the  classes  is  very  low.  Passenger segment over Indian Railways has suffered continuous loss. However, no substantial increase in passenger fare has taken place in last few years. The flexi fare scheme helps Indian Railways to reduce its losses on  the  passenger  segment  and  is  in  line  with  similar  schemes operating in the airline sector.

(c): Yes, Sir. IRCTC conducts Customer Satisfaction Survey in Rajdhani trains.

(d): The  details  of  Independent  Third  Party  Customer  Satisfaction Survey for 2016-17 conducted in Rajdhani trains are as follows:

| Train Name                              |   No. of Samples | Overall satisfaction level of passengers   |
|-----------------------------------------|------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| (12441-42) NDLS-BSP Rajdhani            |              194 | 84%                                        |
| (22691-92) SBC-NZM Rajdhani             |              190 | 95%                                        |
| (12301-02) HWH-NDLS Rajdhani            |              201 | 94%                                        |
| (20501-02) AGTL-ANVT Rajdhani           |              198 | 99%                                        |
| (12951-52) Mumbai Rajdhani              |              198 | 94%                                        |
| (12305-06) Kolkata Rajdhani (via Patna) |              210 | 85%                                        |

(e): Measures  taken  by  Indian  Railways  to  improve  quality  of  food provided in trains, particularly in Rajdhani trains, are as follows:-

- I. To upgrade the quality of meals to be served to the passengers, IRCTC has revised the menu in selected Rajdhani trains.
- II. In  order  to  upgrade  quality  of  food  preparation,  IRCTC  has upgraded 46 Base Kitchens in the last two years. CCTV cameras have been installed in 38 Base Kitchens for monitoring purposes and web-based live streaming facility is being extended to these kitchens. These live streams are available in public domains on raildrishti.in.

- III.
- Food Safety Supervisors have been nominated in Base Kitchens.
- Service  improvements e.g. hand sanitizers,  service  trolleys  and biodegradable  meal  trays  have  been  introduced  in  selected
- IV. Rajdhani trains.
- V. Onboard passenger feedback system has been put into place by equipping supervisors in Rajdhani trains with tablets.
- VI. E-catering  facility  is  being  extended  to  all  A-1  and  A  class stations where branded players and food aggregators have been roped in to provide food.
- VII. System  to  bar  code  all  food  products  and  mention  details  like name of kitchen, date of packing, etc. has been started and it is planned to implement this all over.

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