Lok Sabha Question No. 440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Increase in Prices of Tickets after Lockdown
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 440 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## INCREASE IN PRICES OF TICKETS AFTER LOCKDOWN

440. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways is charging extra amount in all special Trains running since COVID-19 lockdown and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that extra charges are a burden on passengers and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is true that even to travel single station, fare is not less than Rs. 65 in special trains; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof?

## 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.
- *****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 440 BY SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.02.2021 REGARDING INCREASE IN PRICES OF TICKETS AFTER LOCKDOWN

(a)  to  (d):  During  Pre-Covid  time  for  the  passengers,  for  long  distance passengers  two    types  of  train  services  were  running  over  Indian Railways  (i)  Regular  time  tabled  trains  and  (ii)  Special  trains  during festivals/peak  demand  period/rush  period  etc.  Further,  Special  trains were of three types (1) Second class unreserved specials on normal fare (2) Special trains on special charges on normal fare plus special charges (10%  in  second  class  reserved  and  30%  in  other  classes  subject  to prescribed  maximum  and  minimum  limit),  and  (3)  Suvidha  Specials  on minimum tatkal fare and maximum three times of tatkal fare. For both special  trains  on  special  charges  and  Suvidha  trains,  fare  for  second class unreserved was normal second class Mail/Express superfast fare.

In  view  of  health  advisory  due  to  Covid  19,  regular  train  services are running as Covid specials on the fare as applicable for regular time Tabled  trains.  During    Covid  times  as  passenger  demands  are  not uniform  over  different  sectors,  some  special  trains  on  special  charges have  been  introduced  to  meet  the  additional  demands  over  different sectors  as  per  already  published  fare  for  special  trains  on  special charges  vide  (2)  above.  Further,  unreserved  second  class  has  been declared as reserved second class in view of pandemic situation.

A comparative statement of minimum  Second class fare in Mail/Express trains during pre Covid and Covid times are as under:-

## A.  In regular time tabled trains restored as regular Covid Specials:

| Pre Covid (In ` )   | Pre Covid (In ` )   | During Covid Period till date (In `)   |
|---------------------|---------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Unreserved          | Reserved            | Reserved                               |
| 30                  | 45                  | 45                                     |

## B. In special trains on special charges:

| Pre Covid (In `)   | Pre Covid (In `)   | During Covid Period till date (In ` )   |
|--------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Unreserved         | Reserved           | Reserved                                |
| 65                 | 75                 | 75                                      |