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'Railways should focus on maximum booking of berths by reducing fares', recommendation of Public Accounts Committee of Parliament
Railways: The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has recommended to the Railways that the Railways should focus on maximum booking of berths by reducing fares. The report also said that the Railways should make a complete plan before starting new trains and ensure maximum booking of berths by reducing fares so that the revenue of the Railways increases.
The Railways would do well to prepare a detailed plan before starting new trains and increase the booking of berths by reducing fares in such a way that revenue for the Railways increases. This is what has been put forth by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament in a report tabled in the 18th Lok Sabha on 21 March.
The panel in its recent report (139th report), laid before the 17th Lok Sabha on 20 April 2023, was worried about losses to revenue through operating Suvidha Express trains. That report found dynamic pricing (flexi fares) resulted in unfilled seats and losses to the Railways. South Western Railways did not see it necessary to declare these trains special or superfast express trains despite recommendations and incurred a loss of Rs 80.74 crore between 2016 and 2021.
However, the Railway Ministry said that the actual earnings during this period were Rs 7.9 crore more than the estimated income, so it cannot be considered a loss. But the committee was dissatisfied with this argument of the Railways and again suggested that if the fares are improved, the Railways can get more passengers and the revenue will also increase.
