Lok Sabha Question No. 3786 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-11
Subject: Decline in Revenues
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Nusrat Jahan Ruhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3786 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2019

## DECLINE IN REVENUES

3786. SHRIMATI NUSRAT JAHAN RUHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the passengers have been moving to other transport modes such as roads and air, which has led to  declining  rail  traffic  and  consequently  declining  revenue generation for the Railways and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of revenue generated through passenger trains in the last five years, year-wise;
- (c) whether it is a fact that railway is facing loss in passenger business; and
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor and the action the Government is going to take in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3786  BY  SHRIMATI  NUSRAT  JAHAN RUHI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 11.12.2019 REGARDING DECLINE IN REVENUES

(a)  and  (b):  Railways,  Road  and  Airlines  are  different  modes  of transport, which  are not comparable  in terms of their volume, connectivity  and  convenience.  During  the  Financial  Year  2018-19, Passenger traffic on Indian Railways has registered a growth of 1.8% as compared to last year. The year wise details of passenger earnings on Indian Railways for the last five years are as under: -

| Financial Year   |   Passenger Earnings ( T in crore) |
|------------------|------------------------------------|
| 2014-15          |                            42189.6 |
| 2015-16          |                            44283.3 |
| 2016-17          |                            46280.5 |
| 2017-18          |                            48643.1 |
| 2018-19          |                            51066.7 |

(c)  :  Indian  Railway  has  kept  the  passenger  fares  lower,  keeping  in view the affordability  for  common  man.  Last  passenger  fare  revision was  done  in  2014-15.  Indian  Railway  continues  to  incur  losses  in passenger segment under social service obligations, like- on account of  concessions  in  passenger  fares,  on  EMU  suburban  services,  on uneconomic  branch  lines,  on  strategic  lines,  due  to  pricing  of  fares below cost etc.

(d): Indian Railways continuously strives to improve passenger traffic over  its  network.  With  a  view  to  ensure  optimum  utilisation  of available  accommodation  and  enhance  earnings,  the  utilisation  of reservation  quota  is  reviewed  on  a  periodical  basis  and  necessary adjustments made, wherever required. Further, various initiatives like augmentation of on-board capacity,  rationalisation  of  flexi-fare  scheme,  graded  discount  in classes and sections with low occupancy and offering fare of AC chair Car  and  Second  class  unreserved  for  AC-3tier  coaches  and  Sleeper class coaches  respectively having low occupancy  on  particular sections , extension of Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme known as VIKALP have also been undertaken. Measures to improve passenger  traffic  and  enhance  earnings  is  a  continuous  and  an  ongoing  process.  New  passenger  services  like  Vande  Bharat  Express, Tejas Express, Air-conditioned Electrical Multiple Unit(EMU) services, Gatiman Express, Anubhuti Coaches etc. with improved features and amenities have been introduced, with appropriate fare structures.

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