Lok Sabha Question No. 1447 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Increase in Fare of Lower Berth
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1447 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## INCREASE IN FARE OF LOWER BERTH

1447.  SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  is  planning  to  increase  the  fare  of  lower berths during festival season and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  Union  Government  is  going  to define the festival season, i.e time/sector/class-wise basis;
- (c) whether the Government has rationale for such fare increase, when the facilities in the trains are not up to the mark; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to increase the facilities in the trains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

( 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. 1447 BY  SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN AND  MS.  RAMYA  HARIDAS  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 10.02.2021 REGARDING INCREASE IN FARE OF LOWER BERTH

(a) & (b): No, Sir.

(c)  &  (d):  Operation  of  special  trains  on  special  charges  is  done  by Indian Railways (IR) to cater to the unmet passenger demand during various periods in the year including the festive/ holiday period due to non-uniform  passenger  demand.  Since  additional  efforts  are  required to operate such services such as arrangement of additional coaches, additional manpower for operations as well as maintenance, additional train  path  to  accommodate  the  special  service  and  in  some  cases unidirectional demand also, special fare is charged for such services which are already published since 2015.

Steps taken by the Government to increase facilities in the trains include  manufacturing  of  only  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches, which are technologically superior and have better riding, aesthetics and  safety  features  than  conventional  Integral  Coach  Factory  (ICF) type coaches. Production Units of IR have stopped the manufacturing of  ICF  type  coaches  and  are  manufacturing  only  LHB  type  coaches from the year 2018-19 onwards. As part of Project Utkrisht launched in April  2018  in  order  to  improve  the  condition  of  ICF  type  coaches running  in  Mail/  Express  trains,  upgradation  of  447  rakes  of  Mail/ Express trains has been completed till December 2020.

New  Train-set  Vande  Bharat  and  premium  train  services  like Humsafar,  Tejas,  Antyodaya,  Utkrisht  Double  air-conditioned  Yatri (UDAY), Mahamana and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti, with upgraded interiors/exteriors and improved passenger amenities have

been  introduced  in  service  in  various  trains  for  better  comfort  and travel experience. With a view to make  Railway  journey  more memorable  'Vistadome  coaches'  are  also  being  introduced.  These coaches  are  equipped  with  roof  top  glasses  and  seats  which  can rotate upto 180 degrees.

Conventional lighting in coaches has been replaced with modern and  energy  efficient  Light  Emitting  Diode  (LED)  lights.  Provision  of increased  number  of  mobile  charging  points  has  been  made  in coaches.  63  smart  coaches  with  ultra-modern  features  like  Smart Public address and passenger information  system,  Smart  HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system), smart security and surveillance  system  etc.  have  been  manufactured  and  introduced  in service.

Conversion  of  End-on-Generation  (EOG)  trains  into  Head  on Generation  (HOG)  trains  has  been  done  to  reduce  noise  and  air pollution at stations and in trains. It will also significantly reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras have been provided in more than 2,900 coaches over IR.

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