Indian Railways scrap flexi fares in some Shatabdi trains, to give discounts instead
21 Dec 2016
A day after Indian Railways announced rebate on Flexi fares to woo passengers (See: Railways raises RAC quota, pares Tatkal seats and offers rebate on Flexi fares to woo passengers), it has now completely scrapped it for some Shatabdi services in certain sections like Ajmer and Mysore from Tuesday.
Accordingly, the Indian Railways has withdrawn the flexi fare system in selected services like the New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and the Chennai Central-Mysore Shatabdi Express and instead give discounted fare in AC Chair Car.
On these identified sections, instead of flexi fare system, fixed fare system will be applicable.
Railways said the flexi fare system will not henceforth be applicable to trains on these sections and instead passengers will be offered discounts in fares on Shatabdi trains on these sections.
It also identified the Ajmer-Jaipur, Jaipur-Kishangarh and Mysore-Bengaluru sections on which concession will be offered.
As per the decision, the existing fare between Jaipur and Ajmer in the New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi trains is Rs335, which has been reduced to Rs300.
The fare between Kishangarh and Jaipur for the Ajmer Shatabdi has been reduced from the existing Rs375 to Rs300.
The fare between Bengaluru and Mysore in the Chennai-Mysore Shatabdi Express was reduced from Rs440 to Rs300.
Other surcharge, if applicable shall be levied separately.
Indian Railways had on Tuesday announced an increase in the number of berths to be available under the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) category and reduce the number of Tatkal quota in bid to stall the fall in passenger bookings in trains, especially the premium services.
The total number of confirmed RAC accommodation in sleeper coaches will go up from 10 to 14, while it will go up from to 8 seats in 3AC coaches and from 2 to 6 in 2AC coaches.
The 'Tatkal' quota earmarked in Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains has been reduced to 10 per cent of the total class-wise accommodation.