Off the wire
• Ukraine's grain exports to hit record high: minister  • Vice Premier calls for intelligent manufacturing  • Feature: Death of bullet-ridden rhino brings an end to Nepal's zero-poaching record  • Somalia plans to coordinate stabilization activities  • Nepal encourages Chinese entrepreneurs to participate in planned infrastructure summit  • UNHCR says 70,000 Somalia refugees willing to return home  • ANC condemns smear campaign against newly appointed Public Protector  • Hollande vows action "over coming months or coming years" to protect France  • Namibia pushes for food fortification to reduce stunting in children  • Roundup: Hamas criticizes High Court decision to suspend local elections  
You are here: 　 Home

Indian Railways introduces "flexi fares" on its 3 premium train services

Xinhua, September 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indian Railways, one of the world's largest train networks, has for the first time introduced "flexi fares" on its three premium train services, a move aimed at reviving the ailing sector.

Officials said Thursday that only the first 10 percent of tickets for its high-speed Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto express services will be sold at current prices, and thereafter fares will jump by 10 percent for every 10 percent of seats sold, subject to maximum of 1.5 times the basic fare.

The state-run Indian Railways, which crisscrosses the country from north to south, operates more than 12,000 passenger trains, carrying over 23 million people every day. However, because of heavy subsidy, the railways has been suffering from huge losses.

The move has, however, been met with huge anger by the country's middle-class and the poor, given their dependence on these three trains, which are faster and much more comfortable than other low-cost trains across the country.

Many Indians have taken to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to vent out their anger at the move and even urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to have a second thought. Endit