Vande Bharat AC fare just Rs 2.19 per km: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha that Vande Bharat AC Chair Car fares average Rs 2.19 per km for 300–400 km journeys, much lower than similar services abroad, helping drive high passenger demand and near-full occupancy
New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said in the Lok Sabha that the fare of the Vande Bharat AC Chair Car for a 300–400 km journey is around Rs 2.19 per kilometre, which is significantly lower than similar services in countries such as China, Japan and France.
In a written reply, Vaishnaw said fares in these countries range between Rs 7 and Rs 20 per kilometre.
“The Ministry of Railways, while deciding the fare structure of various types of passenger services, gives due consideration to factors such as cost of service, value, type of services, facilities offered, affordability, competition from other modes and socio-economic considerations,” he said.
The minister noted that Vande Bharat services were introduced in February 2019 and are currently operating on 82 routes with 164 train services.
He said Vande Bharat trains function as a distinct passenger service segment with a specific fare structure and features such as improved suspension systems, faster acceleration for semi-high-speed operations, automatic plug doors, ergonomic seats, mini pantry, CCTV cameras and the KAVACH safety system.
Keeping affordability in mind, Vaishnaw said the fare structure has been kept below the cost of service.
“The fare of the Vande Bharat AC Chair Car over a journey of 300 to 400 km is around Rs 2.19 per kilometre, which is much lower than comparable services in China, Japan and France,” he said.
He added that the rationalised fare structure has enabled the rapid expansion of these services and reflects strong passenger demand. Most major routes record high occupancy, with Vande Bharat trains operating close to 100 per cent capacity.
On ordinary class fares, Vaishnaw said Indian Railways offers some of the lowest rates globally.
Comparing India with neighbouring countries, he said the per-kilometre fare in India is about 20 paise, compared to 54 paise in Pakistan, 37 paise in Bangladesh and 51 paise in Sri Lanka.