Lok Sabha Question No. 4278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Passengers Travelling between Jaunpur and Maharashtra-Gujarat
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv Priya Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4278 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## PASSENGERS TRAVELLING BETWEEN JAUNPUR AND MAHARASHTRA-GUJARAT

## 4278.  ADV PRIYA SAROJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  data  on  the  number  of  passengers travelling annually between Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh and the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  any  assessment  or  study  has  been  conducted  regarding  the volume of passengers, especially during peak periods like festivals, between these regions, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  adequacy  of  the  current frequency of trains operating between Jaunpur district and major cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, in view of consistently high passenger demand, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the present services meet the  demand adequately, if so,  the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposals  under  consideration  to introduce new trains or increase the frequency of existing trains, if so, the details thereof and the timeline for implementation and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (e)  Presently,  Jaunpur  is  being  served  by  30  pairs  of  Mail/Express trains  which  includes  06  pairs  of  train  services  catering  to  the  needs  of Jaunpur-Mumbai sector and 02 pairs of train services catering to the needs of Jaunpur-Ahmedabad sector. The Railway network straddles across state boundaries. Accordingly, trains are introduced as per network requirement across  such  boundaries.  Besides,  introduction  of  new  train  services  and increase  in  frequency  of  services  are  on-going  processes  on  Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility etc.

On Indian  Railways,  occupancy  pattern  of  trains  is  not  uniform throughout the year and it varies over lean and peak periods. During peak rush periods, the occupancy of the trains especially on popular routes  remains  full  whereas  during  lean  period  and  on  less  popular routes, there is sub optimal utilization. However, State-wise data for number of passengers is not maintained.

Traffic  pattern  of  the  trains  running  on  Indian  Railways  is monitored on regular basis and to cater to additional demand, load of existing trains are augmented, special trains are run, new trains are introduced,  frequency  of  existing  trains  is  increased  etc.  subject  to operational feasibility.

To  provide  greater  accomodation  for  the  passengers  using General  and  non-AC  Sleeper  Coaches,  the  extant  policy  regarding composition  of  Mail/Express  trains  provides  for  12  General  class  & Sleeper  class  non-AC  coaches  and  08  AC-Coaches,  in  a  train  of  22 coaches, thereby providing greater accomodation for the passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches.

In  addition  to  Mail/Express  trains,  Indian  Railways  also  operate unreserved  non-AC  passenger  trains  /  MEMU/EMU  etc.  for  affordable travel.

Presently,  there  are  about  79,000  coaches  being  utilized  for running train services. The details are as under:

| Class                      | No. of coaches        |
|----------------------------|-----------------------|
| General and Non-AC Sleeper | 56,000 (70% of total) |
| AC coaches                 | 23,000                |
| Total                      | 79,000                |

To generate additional accommodation for different segments of passengers, additional coaches are also added to existing trains on a permanent and temporary basis. Details of additional coaches attached on a permanent basis during the last two years are as under:

| Year                  |   Additional coaches attached |
|-----------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2023-24               |                           872 |
| 2024-25 (Till Feb 25) |                           983 |

With a view to augment the accommodation and for the benefit of passengers  travelling  in  unreserved  coaches,  about  1,200  General Class coaches have been attached in the Mail/Express trains operating with LHB coaches during the current financial year 2024-25. Keeping in  view  increased  demand  of  the  passengers  travelling  by  Non-AC coaches, IR has planned to manufacture 17,000 General Class/Sleeper Class Coaches.

In addition to the various types of regular trains, Indian Railways also operates Special train services during festivals, holidays, etc. to cater to the extra needs of passengers. The details of special trains operated during the year 2024 and year 2025 (till February, 2025) are as under:

| Event                                  | No. of train trips   | No. of Passengers served   |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------------|
| Maha Kumbh-2025                        | 17,340               | 4.24 cr                    |
| Durga Pooja / Deepawali / Chhath, 2024 | 7,990                | 1.1 cr                     |
| Summer vacation, 2024                  | 12,919               | 1.8 cr                     |
| Holi, 2024                             | 604                  | 8.6 lakh                   |

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