The railways have reviewed the flexi fare system, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Union minister Rajen Gohain said that interim review has been made and it has been decided w.e.f. December 20, 2016, to allow 10% rebate in basic fare on vacant berths/seats after preparation of first chart in all trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains on an experimental basis for six months.

Provision of Tatkal quota has been reduced in flexi fare trains from maximum 30% to 10% of the total berths availability.

Apart from above, w.e.f. December 20, 2016 discounted fare has been offered for the passengers of Jaipur-Ajmer and Ajmer-Jaipur in 12015/12016 New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and for the passengers of Bengaluru City-Mysuru and Mysuru-Bengaluru City in 12007/12008 Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi Express on an experimental basis for a period of six months. 

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The minister clarified that dynamic fare system has not been introduced in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains. However, w.e.f. 09.09.2016, flexi fare system has been introduced in Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains. 

Occupancy of the trains varies during peak, non-peak, festivals seasons, special occasions and weekends etc. Therefore, sometimes the trains run with higher occupancy (more than the berth potential) and sometimes during non-peak times some berths remain vacant. Therefore, loss due to vacant berths in trains cannot be quantified. 

However, the average occupancy of all reserved accommodation on Indian Railways during 2015-2016 was 101% which has gone upto 102% in 2016-17 upto December, 2016.