Indian Railways’ earnings from sale of platform tickets dipped by 94% due to COVID-19

Indian Railways had restricted overcrowding at stations even earlier than the nationwide lockdown was introduced by PM Modi in March 2020.

Indian Railways’ earnings from platform tickets took a extreme hit within the monetary 12 months 2020-21 with income from the sale of platform tickets dipping by about 94% as in comparison with the earlier 12 months. The low incomes from platform tickets is because of restrictions imposed on entry into railway stations due to the COVID-19 disaster, in response to an RTI. To an RTI question from MP-based Chandra Shekhar Gaur, the nationwide transporter had replied that until February in 2020-21, it earned Rs 10 crore by means of the sale of platform tickets. Within the monetary 12 months 2019-2020, Indian Railways earned Rs 160.87 crore which was the highest-earning from platform tickets within the final 5 years. Indian Railways had restricted overcrowding at stations even earlier than the nationwide lockdown was introduced by PM Modi in March 2020, in response to a PTI report.

As the choice on the speed of platform tickets and whether or not to limit entry, is empowered to the DRMs, a number of zonal railways utterly denied entry and permitted solely these with legitimate tickets to enter for many of the 12 months. Later, in an effort to dissuade individuals from coming into railway stations, it was additionally determined that the costs of platform tickets be elevated from Rs 10 to Rs 30 and even Rs 50 in sure zones. Nevertheless, the nationwide transporter maintained that the rise in ticket costs was non permanent and a measure to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the report, income from the sale of platform tickets has lingered across the Rs 131 crore mark aside from the 12 months 2018-2019 when it shot as much as an quantity of Rs 139.20 crore. In fiscal 2019-20, it touched the mark of Rs 160 crore however dipped severely to Rs 10 crore in 2020-21 till the month of February this 12 months.

With the easing of Covid restrictions, the Northern Railways (the biggest Indian Railways’ zone) introduced on Saturday that they’ve determined to restart the sale of platform tickets at eight main railway stations within the Delhi Division. To stop pointless crowding at stations, the platform ticket costs have been enhanced to Rs 30 per ticket, it stated. The eight railway stations beneath Delhi Division the place passengers can avail of the platform ticket facility embrace New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Junction, Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Ghaziabad, Meerut Metropolis, and Delhi Cantt stations.