Lok Sabha Question No. 1818 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-09
Subject: Decline in Passenger Traffic
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUSHMITA DEV, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne, ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1818 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2015

## DECLINE IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC

## 1818.  KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that on the one hand, the passenger traffic is declining and on the other hand, long distance passenger trains are overcrowded;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  decline  registered  during  the  last  three years and the current year and the reasons for overcrowd in long distance trains;
- (c)  whether  the  Railways  is  considering  introduction  of  dynamic
- fare for all classes in all trains on the lines of air fare;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Railways to increase revenue and
- reduce overcrowd in the trains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1818  BY  KUMARI  SUSHMITA  DEV, SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL, SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA, SHRI ADHALRAO  PATIL  SHIVAJIRAO,  SHRI  SHRIRANG  APPA  BARNE AND SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.12.2015 REGARDING DECLINE IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

(a) & (b): The passenger traffic details for the last three years and current year upto October, 2015 is as under:-

| Financial Year                |   Number of passengers ( in millions) |   Variation over corresponding period of last year (in %) |
|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| 2012-13                       |                               8421    |                                                      2.39 |
| 2013-14                       |                               8397    |                                                     -0.29 |
| 2014-15                       |                               8224    |                                                     -2.06 |
| 2015-16 ( upto October, 2015) |                               4789.87 |                                                     -2.55 |

The decline in the number of passengers in recent years is mainly attributable to a fall in the number of short distance passengers due  to  improvement  in  road  infrastructure  offering  better  and faster connectivity leading to increase in the number of personal and  commercial  vehicles  and  diversion  of  passenger  traffic  to metro  rail  projects  in  cities.  However,  there  is  increase  in  the number of long distance passengers and a large number of long distance trains have occupancy of more than 100%. Further,  on Indian  Railways,  the  demand  pattern  is  not  uniform  throughout the  year  and  it  varies  during  the  peak  and  lean  seasons.  The demand for travel surges in long distance trains especially during the peak season like during summer holidays, festivals etc.

- (c)  &  (d):  At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  introduce  dynamic fare  scheme  for  all  classes  in  all  trains.  However,  there  is premium  Tatkal  quota  in  identified  trains  in  which  system  of dynamic  fare  is  applicable.  Also,  Indian  Railways  is  running Suvidha/  Premium  special  trains  with  variable/  dynamic  fares where fares increase with the number of berths being sold.

(e):  Steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  improve  earnings  from  the passenger traffic segment include:

- i. Augmentation of ticket selling capacity through operation of Automatic  Ticket  Vending  Machines  (ATVM),  Cash-Coin  & Smart  Card  operated  Ticket  Vending  Machines  (CoTVM), mobile  ticketing,  utilising  the  services  of  ticketing  agents like  Jan  Sadharan  Ticket  Booking  Sewaks  (JTBS),  Station Ticket Booking Agents (STBA), Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra (YTSK) etc.
- ii. Organising intensive ticket checking drives including fortress checks etc.
- iii. Augmentation of on-board capacity by attachment of additional coaches, running of special trains during festivals and holidays, running of Suvidha trains etc.

In  order  to  cater  to  surges  in  demand  experienced  during  peak periods  such  as  holidays,  festivals  etc,  Indian  Railways  run special  trains  including  fully  unreserved  special  trains  and  also operational augments  coaches  in  existing  trains subject to feasibility, traffic demand and availability of resources.

*****