Vande Bharat Fares Among Lowest Globally, Occupancy Exceeds 95%: Railways Minister

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that fares for Vande Bharat trains are significantly lower than comparable services in China, Japan, and France. Since its launch in 2019, Indian Railways has introduced 162 Vande Bharat AC Chair Car services covering 82 routes across the country.

In a written statement, Vaishnaw said that the average fare for journeys between 300 km and 400 km is approximately Rs 2.19 per passenger kilometre (PKM), compared to Rs 7 to Rs 20 per PKM in the mentioned countries. He also noted that Indian Railways' ordinary-class fares are among the lowest in the world, cheaper than those in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Vaishnaw added that around 740 crore passengers travel on Indian Railways annually. The fare structure considers socio-economic factors and aligns with global best practices. 'While deciding the fare structure, we give due consideration to cost of service, value of service, type of services offered, affordability, competition, and socio-economic considerations,' he said.

The minister highlighted that Vande Bharat trains have maintained high occupancy levels, nearing 100% on major routes, indicating strong passenger demand. He attributed this to the rationalised fare structure and advanced features such as improved suspension, faster acceleration, automatic plug doors, ergonomic seats, mini pantry, CCTV, and KAVACH anti-collision system.

Vaishnaw also disclosed that the total subsidy on passenger tickets for the financial year 2024-25 is provisionally estimated at Rs 60,239 crore, representing a 43% subsidy on the cost of travel. 'If the cost of providing service is Rs 100, then the ticket price is only Rs 57. There is no concession in Vande Bharat fares, but four seats per service are reserved for persons with disabilities,' he said.