Lakhs of travellers choose trains over flights as there is a significant difference between the ticket prices most of the time. There is no denying that air travel costs a bomb, even to cover short distances domestically. This is where trains help us to continue travelling on a specified budget. But looks like journeys on some trains are now costing more than catching a flight. You will need to shell out more money for premium Suvidha trains than flights now.
Netizens Raise Concern Over Extreme Surge Of Suvidha Trains’s Pricing Structure
Taking to the X (formerly Twitter) platform, स्वयम्भूः 🇮🇳 (@Hiranyagarbhah) shared how tickets for a single seat on Suvidha trains are costing a lot.
This is the reality of Indian Railways suvidha trains. A single seat in 3 tier AC coach is costing 6655 INR. Ac 2 tier seat is costing 9395 INR. In the name of suvidha and festivals Indian railways is doing day light robbery. flight ticket is costing 6934. @ndtv @aajtak pic.twitter.com/zFDJoOSrtW
— स्वयम्भूः 🇮🇳 (@Hiranyagarbhah) November 17, 2023
A 3-tier AC coach ticket on Suvidha Express from Mumbai to Patna is costing ₹6,655 and a 2-tier AC coach seat is costing ₹9,395. On the other hand, an IndiGo flight ticket on the same route is priced at ₹6,934. There is hardly any such major difference between the ticket fare of the train and flight. Interestingly, air travel from Mumbai to Patna is cheaper than booking a 2-tier AC coach seat on Suvidha Express.
KAAFIR (@Kaafir887799) tweeted how concerned authorities are not sharing “the complete story behind such charges”. The user also mentioned how a message stating “Dynamic Pricing is applicable in this train. Fare may increase at the time of booking” appears on the screen while tapping the class section for bookings.
#MurkhoKeSardar
Why don’t you reveal the complete story behind such charges,This train Suvidha Express has got only 8 halts and it’s a superfast train that’s why when we touch the class section for bookings, this message appears on the screen👇 https://t.co/TPS1sWefUw pic.twitter.com/Wdff98zWN9
— KAAFIR (@Kaafir887799) November 15, 2023
praveen kumar (@Prvn23Kumar) pointed out the issue of getting tickets during festivals and high demand. He tagged the Ministry of Railways asking “why it’s so hectic for Biharis working outside Bihar”. He mentioned how they do not get tickets easily during festivals. In fact, if they get tickets to return home during the festive season, it costs them thrice on the Suvidha Express.
@RailMinIndia why its so hectic for Biharis working outside Bihar
We cant get ticket so easily in festivals and if get also after paying 3 times in Suvidha express the train get late and is also so very unhygienic pic.twitter.com/Ow5S0nLWJy
— praveen kumar (@Prvn23Kumar) November 18, 2023
Also read: Everyone Will Get A Confirmed Ticket On Indian Railways Trains By 2027, Expansion Plans In Place
Railways Plans To Take Necessary Steps
Social media is getting flooded with complaints and concerns from Internet users about a surge in ticket prices from Mumbai to Patna and the dynamic pricing structure of Suvidha Express. Railways are now working on a plan that may focus on discontinuing the system of dynamic pricing only for premium Suvidha trains, according to a report by The Telegraph India.
People from different states of India are now looking for train and flight tickets to visit home in Patna and celebrate Chhath Puja. In between the surge in demand and an abnormal spike in train ticket fares, everyone is getting concerned, criticising, and venting on social media platforms. Railways plan to take some necessary action in view of the excessive ticket costs.
Railways may decrease the allowed spike in the ticket base prices for Suvidha Express, according to a report by SwarajyaMag. Suvidha Express was launched a few years back and the fare structure has been dynamic from 2015. Dynamic pricing structure states that the fare of the ticket will vary on the number of available seats. With the seats decreasing, the prices increase as well. Also, this fare structure is available on only some superfast trains and not all express trains operated by Railways.
Also read: Indian Railways Has New Weight Limit For Your Luggage While Travelling In Trains
Starting from October 1, 2023, Railways have already provided services for 2,423 journeys in special trains. These trains travelled with around 36 lakh people this festive season. The numbers are quite high this year, in comparison to 2022.
Are you travelling back home this festival season?
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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