Indian Railways’ earnings from sale of platform tickets dipped by 94% due to COVID-19
Indian Railways have restricted crowding on stations due to the nationwide lockdown announced by PM Modi last year in March 2020.
The Indian Railways earning from platform tickets decreased drastically this year due to the pandemic ,it dipped drastically by 94 percent from the previous year . The Indian Railways replying to an RTI query stated that it had earned 10 crores till the month of February through sale of platform tickets.
Last year the Railways had earned 160.87 crores which was considered as the highest earning from platform tickets in the last 5 years. Decision on rate of platform ticket and restrictions on people entering the station and overcrowding was given to the Divisional Railway Manager's. Several Zonal Railways completely denied entry and permitted only those with valid tickets to enter for most of the year. Later they also increased the price of the platform tickets from 10 to 30 and even 50 in certain zones of the country.
However,rise in ticket prices were temporary and a measure to counter the COVID -19 Pandemic.
According to the report, revenue from the sale of platform tickets has lingered around the Rs 131 crore mark except for the year 2018-2019 when it shot up to an amount of Rs 139.20 crore. In fiscal 2019-20, it touched the mark of Rs 160 crore but dipped severely to Rs 10 crore in 2020-21 until the month of February this year.
Now , with the easing of the covid restrictions , the Northern Railways which is the largest Indian Railways Zone in India have announced on Saturday that they have decided to start the sale of platform tickets .To prevent unnecessary crowding at stations, the platform ticket prices have been enhanced to Rs 30 per ticket , it said.
Main eight stations under the Delhi Division would allow the passengers to take platform ticket which includes New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Junction, Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Ghaziabad, Meerut City, and Delhi Cantt stations.More Normal and SpecialTrains will resume soon , said the Railway department.
