Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Reduction of Fares in AC and Executive Classes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rakesh Singh, Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 84

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## REDUCTION OF FARES IN AC AND EXECUTIVE CLASSES

- †*84. SHRI RAKESH SINGH: SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Railways has slashed the ticket fare for AC  Chair  Car  and  Executive  classes  for  trains,  including  Vande Bharat by a maximum of 25%;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that the Railways is considering to introduce similar fare cut in other classes such as Sleeper etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  it  is  also  true  that  sleeper  or  second-seating  passengers always outnumber air-conditioned coach passengers and if so, the details in this regard;
- (e) whether it is a fact that the reduction in fare of AC Chair Car and Executive  Classes  was  made  because  of  very  low  occupancy  in Vande Bharat trains on most of the routes; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  average  occupancy  rate  of passengers in all Vande Bharat trains as of now?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO.  84  BY  SHRI  RAKESH  SINGH  AND  SHRI  MANICKAM TAGORE B.TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2023 REGARDING REDUCTION OF FARES IN AC AND EXECUTIVE CLASSES

(a)  to  (f):  Zonal  Railways  had  been  delegated  power  to  introduce discounts  up  to  a  maximum  of  25%  of  basic  fare  in  AC  chair  car  and Executive class in order to optimize utilization of accommodation (vide commercial circular no . 40 of 2019, dated 27.8.2019). This authorized zonal  railways  to  offer  competitive  fares  over  certain  segments  after analyzing the travel trends for all competitive modes in the region and also  estimating  the  future  occupancy  potential.  The  same  provisions were extended with some minor modifications (vide commercial circular no. 11  of 2023,  dated  8.7.2023).  Further,  fare  rationalization is a continuous  process  to  optimize  utilization  of  travel  accommodation  in trains.

Indian  Railways  always  strives  to  provide  affordable  services  to  all strata  of  society.  The  number  of  Non-AC  (Sleeper  &  general)  coaches and AC coaches as on 31 st  March 2023 is as under:

| Type of coaches         | Number of coaches   | Percentage of total passenger coaches   |
|-------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Non- AC coaches         | 41,917              | 67%                                     |
| AC coaches              | 20,287              | 33%                                     |
| Total Passenger coaches | 62,204              | ----                                    |

During  current  financial  year,  2023-24  (up  to  June  2023),  the  overall utilization of Vande Bharat trains has been 99.60%.

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