The committee, in its current report, has also suggested an ‘AI model’ for implementing a system to determine separate fares for preferred seats and to optimize seat allocation.
New Delhi: The Indian Railways should assess feasibility before launching new trains, a parliamentary committee said in its report on Friday. The panel also suggested that the ministry should consider lowering fares to maximize occupancy by filling as many seats as possible. The report was presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. The committee had expressed concern over revenue losses incurred by the South Western Railway due to the operation of Suvidha Express trains in its 139th report, which was submitted in the previous Lok Sabha on April 20 last year.
The current report presents the committee’s views on the actions taken by the government and the Ministry of Railways in response to the comments and recommendations outlined in the committee’s 139th report.
According to this report, the committee has reiterated that there should be a regular study of the usage pattern of convenience trains to make necessary modifications for maximum utilization of seats. Considering the fact that the ‘flexi-fare’ (demand-based fare increase) works both ways—leading to both an increase and decrease in ticket demand—the Railways should consider lowering fares to fill as many seats as possible in the trains.
The committee, in its current report, has also suggested an ‘AI model’ for implementing a system to determine separate fares for preferred seats and to optimize seat allocation. This AI model would help analyze demand patterns and streamline seat allotment. The “Suvidha” train was introduced by the Railways in 2014. It operates on busy routes and follows dynamic pricing, meaning its fare is demand-based, similar to airlines.
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