Lok Sabha Question No. 167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Low Occupancy Routes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## LOW OCCUPANCY ROUTES

167. SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has prepared any list of those routes whose occupancy in trains is 50 percent or below;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, zone-wise; and
- (c) the corrective steps  taken  by  the  Government  to increase the occupancy on low occupancy routes and the outcome thereof?

## 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.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  167  BY  SHRIMATI  SANTOSH AHLAWAT  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  18.07.2018 REGARDING LOW OCCUPANCY ROUTES.

(a) & (b):  On Indian Railways, demand is not uniform. It varies during lean and peak periods and this lean and peak period is also  not  uniform  for  all  parts  of  the  country.  Further,  trains running on popular and convenient timings with lesser stoppages and running  time  are  generally  well  patronized  and also experience waiting list almost throughout the year. However, other trains not having these features are chosen by passengers  for  travel  only  as  a  second  alternative  and  are, therefore, not fully patronized. Another reason for less patronization of trains is the availability of convenient and fast road networks in some sectors e.g. highways and expressways, which  are  getting  developed  rapidly  in  different  parts  of  the country encouraging the use of personal vehicles more & more. Route-wise  and  zone-wise  statistics  of  occupancy  are  not maintained on Indian Railways. However, the overall occupancy of  all  reserved  trains  on  Indian  Railways  during  the  Financial Year 2017-18 was more than 100%.

(c)  :  The  various steps which are being taken as a continuous and ongoing exercise, to improve the occupancy  of less patronised trains are as under: -

- 1) Introducing  fast  services  and  reducing  running  time  of existing trains.
- 2) Making the timings of empty trains more convenient.
- 3) Reduction in load of poorly patronized trains and using the released coaches to augment the load of well-patronised trains.
- 4) Studying the utilisation pattern of trains to make necessary modifications like re-distribution of reservation quota, augmentation/reduction of load of train etc.
- 5) Introducing  suitable  type  of  trains  catering  to  specific requirements of passengers on road-competitive sectors.
- 6) Discounted  fare  has  been  offered  in  Shatabdi  trains  in last/first leg of journey over the following sections:-
7. (i) From Bengaluru to Mysuru
8. (ii)  From Mysuru to Bengaluru
9. (iii) From Ahmedabad to Vadodara
10. (iv) From New Jalpaiguri to Malda Town
- 7) Declaration  of  AC-3  tier  coach  as  AC  Chair  Coach  and booking  on  AC  chair  car  fare  in  5  pairs  of  trains  over Bengaluru-Mysuru-Bengaluru section.
- 8) 10% rebate in the basic fare is given in all trains on vacant berths/seats after preparation of first Reservation Chart.
- 9) Declaration of sleeper class coach as unreserved second class/unreserved sleeper class coach.
- 10) Reducing the frequency of such trains and Cancellation of poorly patronized train, if so required.

*****