Railways regularly monitor earning and occupancy of all trains including trains under flexi fare scheme. Review of all existing schemes is a continuous and ongoing process to effect further improvement. Accordingly, an interim review of the flexi fare scheme has been made and the following changes were made with effect from 20.12.2016 :-

(i) 10% rebate in basic fare on vacant berths/seats after preparation of first chart in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.

(ii) Tatkal quota has been reduced in flexi fare trains from maximum 30% to 10% of the total available berths.

(iii) Discounted fare has been offered in T. No. 12015/12016 New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express for the passengers travelling between Jaipur-Ajmer and Ajmer-Jaipur and in T.No. 12007/12008 Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi Express for the passengers travelling between Bengaluru-Mysuru and Mysuru- Bengaluru.

Operating cost of running of passenger services is increasing year after year resulting in adverse impact on profitability of passenger segment. Passenger segment is being cross subsidised by the freight segment. In order to generate additional revenues from passenger segment and reduce cross-subsidisation from freight, flexi fare system has been introduced with effect from 09.09.2016 in all classes of reserved accommodation except First AC and Executive class of premium segment trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains) which offer faster transit time and higher level of amenities. Additional earnings of about `551 crore has been generated from the trains under flexi fare scheme (Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains) during the period from 09.09.2016 to 30.06.2017.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 26.07.2017 (Wednesday).

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Revision in Menu & Tariff After 14 Years
A New Concept of Combo Meal to be Introduced for First Time

The Ministry of Railways has decided to revise the menu and rates for Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains with effect from 17th October, 2013. The Menu and tariff of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains is included in the ticket fare and have not been revised since 1999 whereas the cost of raw material, WPI, index cost of services have increased manifold. With a view to arrive at the realistic prices Committees had been nominated by the Board to recommend the revised rates.  The committees have scientifically examined all aspects of costing keeping the objectives to provide hygiene and affordable meals to the travelling passengers on the premium trains. Based on the reports of the committee, the revised menu & tariff have been approved by the Competent Authority and notified.

Fixed cyclic menus of 5 menus sets indicating items and brands to be served for all classes of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains are to be notified so as to provide variety.

1AC (Rajdhani/Duronto trains)/Executive Class (Shatabdi trains): – It is proposed to reduce the rate of Morning Tea and Evening Tea by nearly 35% and 30% respectively while the rate of Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner is to be increased by nearly 35% and 15% respectively.

2AC/3AC (Rajdhani/Duronto trains)/AC Chair Car (Shatabdi trains): – It is proposed to reduce the rate of Morning Tea and Evening Tea by nearly 40% and 10% respectively while the rate of Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner is to be increased by nearly 65% and 50% respectively.

The impact on Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast rates will be an increase in the average range of Rs.25/- & Rs. 27/-.

A new concept of Combo Meal is being introduced as an every alternate meal on Rajdhani/Duronto trains which has been priced at half the cost of the regular Lunch/Dinner so as to reduce wastage/excess items.

The decrease in rates is mainly due to deletion of items which were extra/ repetitive in nature (e.g. Éclairs, Tea bags, Fruit Juice etc.).

The increase of rates is due to increase of cost of raw material/ services and WPI as the rates were last revised 14 years back.

            With the above revision the quality and variety of services are proposed to be improved. Further to ensure quality of services, following measures are underway:-

A  Catering Service Monitoring Cell has been set up in Railway Board with toll free no. 1800111321 to redress the complaints from travelling passengers on real time basis.

Licensees has to set up state of art Base Kitchens on railway premises as far as possible by licensee so as to enable improved supervision and monitoring to improve the quality of food. Subsequently the Base kitchens are to be duly certified with valid ISO 22000:2005 certificate.

Stringent quality parameters like supply of branded products in hygienic condition. FPO/AGMARK approved items and compliance of instructions of Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) are to be made mandatory.

Provision for external audit (Third Party Audit) by reputed and independent agency appointed by zonal railways to undertake audit of quality of services periodically to ensure the quality has been made mandatory.

Source: PIB

The post Revision in Menu and Rates for Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto Trains with Effect from 17th October 2013 appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.