Mumbai: ‘Make AC train fares same as first class’

While the interim report on upgrading all Mumbai local trains to air-conditioned (AC) talks of effective communication and convincing commuters to accept the higher fares of existing AC trains, Mumbai commuter bodies say a simple immediate solution could be reducing the fare of AC trains to that of first class to end all controversies once and for all for wider acceptability.

First class commuters may get convinced by such campaigns, but what about second-class passengers, who may not be able to afford them at all. Though Mumbai suburban fares are abysmally low, the right way of correcting them will be to first introduce an upgraded fleet of trains at existing fares and then raise them, sources said.

Railway consultant in its first-ever official interim report has chalked out a strategy to upgrade regular local trains into AC trains. Mentioning about fares, the report states that currently 90 per cent of the commuters are second-class pass/ticket holders, AC trains have lower frequency compared to non-AC trains and lesser passengers per trip.

"Due to the considerable difference in fares between non-AC and AC and the fare sensitivity of a large part of the travelling population, the conversion from non-AC to AC is a very sensitive phenomenon and an effective communication strategy is very important," the report stated.

The report pointed out that the hesitation to accept the AC trains is owing to the fare, "An effective and convincing awareness on the benefits of AC trains over non-AC can improve the situation. This can only be an ongoing one and not a one-time exercise," the report added. According to the commuters and their representatives the report focuses on creating awareness to communicate advantages of AC trains to commuters but not considering the affordability aspect of it.

"Mumbai locals are used mainly by those from the Below Poverty Line /Above Poverty Line (BPL/APL) and middle class who can't afford travel in the AC trains. If all trains are converted into AC trains, then railways should reduce the fare else it will be unfair to the majority of the commuters," commuter Raghunath T K said.

"I personally feel that when you charge four times for first class and even more for AC, then railway administration must ensure that there are no unauthorised travelers. If you charge extra then provide services," Ketanbhai Shah, member of CR Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee.

"To start with they should have fares at par with first class. If the BEST can introduce new swank AC electric double decker buses at the same fare, why can't the railways? We brought this thing up in the beginning when AC local was being introduced. We took a delegation of commuters after which they reduced the single and return ticket fares. But the fare of AC trains remains expensive. For the common man even the first class fares are unaffordable," said Madhu Kotian, president of Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh (MRPS).

"To start with, the fares should be the same for first class and AC trains and doing so will end public opposition. Once there is acceptability then we can proceed further. On WR, railways can introduce trains in three phases, first convert all trains to AC between Churchgate-Andheri, then Andheri-Virar and then Virar-Dahanu," said Shailesh Goyal, former member, National Railway Users Consultative Committee.

The fares for AC local single and return journey tickets have been substantially reduced with effect from May 5, 2022. But the fare of monthly, quarterly and other passes remains unaltered. Railway officials said that anything related to the fare structure is under the purview of the railway board as it was a policy matter and zonal railway officials had no say in it.

Fare and lovely

Mumbai CSMT-Thane
Monthly Pass
Second Class Rs 215
First Class Rs 755
AC Local Rs 1,775

Churchgate-Borivli
Monthly Pass
Second Class Rs 215
First Class Rs 755
AC Local Rs 1,775

90%
Volume of passengers who travel 2nd class