Lok Sabha Question No. 1851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Losses Due to Vacant Seats
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1851 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2016

## LOSSES DUE TO VACANT SEATS

†1851. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether 30 to 70 thousand seats remain vacant every year in  Duronto  Express  trains  across  the  country  whereas  in  all other trains seats get booked 3 to 4 months in advances;
- (b)  if  so,  the  year-wise  details  of  losses  incurred  by  railways due to these seats going vacant during the year 2010 to 2015;
- (c)  whether  in  view  of  the  revenue  loss  being  incurred  in Duronto  trains,  the  Ministry  is  considering  to  convert  its technical stoppages into commercial stoppages; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)  &  (b):  The  details  of  berth  potential  of  Duronto  Express Trains,  actual  passengers  travelled,  earning  potential  and actual earning during the period 2010-11 to 2015-16 is Appended.    Here  it  is  also  stated  that  the  overall  average occupancy  of  Duronto  Express  Trains  and  all  Mail  Express Trains during the last five years is around 90%.

(c) & (d): The policy related to provision of en-route commercial stoppages in Duronto Express trains was reviewed and it has been decided that in certain sub-optimally patronised Duronto Express trains, some operational halts may be converted into commercial halts with a view to improve the patronization of these services. Accordingly, certain operational halts of 23 pairs of Duronto Express trains out of 26 Duronto Express trains running over Indian Railways have been converted into commercial stoppages.

******

APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) of UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1851  BY  SHRI  DEVJI  M.  PATEL  TO  BE  ANSWRED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.03.2016 REGARDING LOSSES DUE TO VACANT SEATS. (a) & (b):  Summary of Duronto trains occupancy & earnings during the Financial Year 2010-11

## to 2015-16 (up to January 2016)

|   S. No. | Year                         | Berth Potential   | Actual Passengers   | Difference of berth potential and actual passengers   | Earnings Potential (in ` )   | Actual Earnings (in ` )   | Difference of earnings potential and actual Earnings (in ` )   |
|----------|------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2010-11                      | 3,162,705         | 2,752,196           | 410,509                                               | 3,085,887,464                | 2,544,883,988             | 541,003,476                                                    |
|        2 | 2011-12                      | 4,573,986         | 4,154,144           | 419,842                                               | 4,735,006,859                | 4,193,855,118             | 541,151,741                                                    |
|        3 | 2012-13                      | 7,030,499         | 6,527,415           | 503,084                                               | 7,349,557,593                | 6,891,493,622             | 458,063,971                                                    |
|        4 | 2013-14                      | 7,562,916         | 6,878,359           | 684,557                                               | 9,255,235,045                | 8,310,743,786             | 944,491,259                                                    |
|        5 | 2014-15                      | 7,313,073         | 6,572,696           | 740,377                                               | 10,530,202,765               | 9,135,979,938             | 1,394,222,827                                                  |
|        6 | 2015-16 (Up to January 2016) | 5,958,494         | 5,408,879           | 549,615                                               | 8,873,566,420                | 7,686,399,715             | 1,187,166,705                                                  |

******