• Source:JND
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed concerns over the high fares of Vande Bharat Express, stating that fare determination takes into account several factors, including service costs, affordability, and socio-economic considerations. His response came in a written reply during the budget session of the Parliament, following a query from Congress MP Rakibul Hussain. 

The legislator from Assam’s Dhubri constituency had asked whether the government planned to reduce fares to make the premium service more accessible, particularly for lower-income groups.

Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that Indian Railways operates multiple train services catering to different passenger segments and fares are structured based on the facilities provided. He stated that fare evaluation and rationalisation, including for Vande Bharat trains, is an ongoing process to ensure affordability while maintaining service quality.

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Amrit Bharat Trains For Affordable Travel

To provide high-quality services at lower fares, the railway minister highlighted the introduction of Amrit Bharat trains, which are fully non-AC services. These trains consist of 12 Sleeper Class and 8 General Class coaches, designed specifically to cater to a larger section of the population, particularly lower-income groups. 

Equipped with modern features such as semi-permanent couplers for jerk-free travel, sliding windows and foldable snack tables, these trains aim to enhance passenger comfort at economical rates, the minister added.

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India's Railway Fares Among Lowest Globally

Earlier, Ashwini Vaishnaw compared India’s railway fares with those in neighboring countries, asserting that Indian rail travel remains significantly cheaper. He noted that for a 350-km journey, a general class ticket costs Rs 121 in India, compared to Rs 400 in Pakistan and Rs 413 in Sri Lanka. He further highlighted that fares in Western countries are 10-20 times higher than in India and pointed out that there has been no fare hike since 2020.

Despite the low fares, the railway minister revealed that the actual cost per passenger is Rs 1.38 per km, while passengers are charged only 72 paise. To bridge this gap, the government allocated approximately Rs 57,000 crore for passenger subsidies in 2023-24, ensuring affordability while maintaining rail operations.