Lok Sabha Question No. 4102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Flexi Fare System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pankaj Chowdhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4102 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## FLEXI FARE SYSTEM

†4102.  SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  details  of  the  seats  which  remained  vacant  in  the  trains under Flexi Fare System during the last eight months, i.e., from July, 2019 to February, 2020;
- (b)    whether  the  Government  has  contemplated  upon  the  reasons behind  the  seats  remaining  vacant  in  the  trains  under  Flexi  Fare System;
- (c)   if so, the measures being taken by the Government to fill such seats in the said trains; and
- (d)  whether the Government is likely to consider giving concessions in the fare to the elderly, the differently  abled  and  patients travelling in trains under Flexi Fare System?

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. 4102 BY SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  18.03.2020  REGARDING  FLEXI  FARE SYSTEM

(a) and (b)     During the eight months period from 1 st  July 2019 to 29 th February  2020,  approximately  28.93  Lakh  berths  remained  vacant  in Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and  Duronto  type  trains  having  flexi  fare.  Two months,  in  this  period  are  lean  period  in  which  the  occupancy  of  all trains generally remains low.

Average occupancy of flexi fare trains for the above period from 1 st July 2019 to 29 th  February 2020 is 86.30%.

However, it is submitted that number of passengers booked in the trains having flexi fare has registered an increase of 0.95% for the period September 2016 to August 2018 as compared to corresponding period of previous  years  (Two  full  year  non  Flexi  Fare  period).  Further,  overall occupancy  of  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and  Duronto  trains  has  registered  a continuous increase since the inception of Flexi Fare. The details are as follows:

| Financial Year          |   % Age Occupancy of Flexi Fare Trains |
|-------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 (Sept to March) |                                  81.36 |
| 2017-18                 |                                  83.56 |
| 2018-19                 |                                  86.53 |

--2/-

- (c) Based on the committee's recommendations and other representations,  the  matter  was  examined  and    Flexi  fare  scheme  in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains has been rationalized with effect from 15.11.18 for journey commencing from 15.03.2019 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,  where class-wise  occupancy  is  less  than  60%,  4  days  prior  to  scheduled departure of the train as under:-
- (d)    Senior  citizen,  male/transgender  of  age  60  years  and  above  and Female senior citizens of age 58 years and above are already entitled for concession  in  the  basic  fare  in  all  classes  of  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and Duronto  trains.  The  element  of  concession  is  50%  for  female  senior citizens  and  40%  for  male/transgender  senior  citizens.  Orthopaedically handicapped/Paraplegic  persons  who  cannot  travel  without  an  escort, Mentally  retarded  persons  who  cannot  travel  without  an  escort  and Persons  with  visual  impairment  with  total  absence  of  sight  are  also eligible for 25% concession on the basic fare in 3AC and AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains.

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

At  present  there  is  no  proposal  to  further  extend  concession  to Patients in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.

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