Western Railway says Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector saw 100 per cent occupancy even in lean season

The Western Railway yesterday said that contrary to its own earlier RTI replies of 40 per cent drop in seat occupancy coupled with a huge loss in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector, it was actually a very profitable sector with over 100 per cent occupancy even during off-season.In RTI replies provided to activist Anil Galgali, WR's Chief Commercial Manager Manjit Singh had given detailed figures of the seats going vacant on this sector, resulting in losses of almost Rs 30 crore between July and September this year.However, now Chief Public Relations Officer Ravinder Bhakar said that there are nine direct trains and 25 other trains going via Ahmedabad and the total earnings on this sector during that period was Rs 233 crore, against the losses of nearly Rs 30 crore as per the RTI replies, which pertained to number of passengers travelling between Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad."The information does not include information about en route traffic, passengers from originating station to en route stations, intermediate stations to intermediate and to destination stations between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad, thereby showing lesser occupancy," Mr Bhakar said.Despite the July-September period being a lean season, he said the occupancy on this sector remained 100 per cent plus on all the 34 trains.Of the nine direct trains, there were 803,150 berths of which actual bookings were 830,978, or 103 per cent occupancy in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector, and in return direction, the position remained the same.Besides, in the 25 trains going via Ahmedabad, the berth availability was 1,070,710 and actual bookings were 1,230,585 or 115 per cent; in the return direction, it was even higher at 121 per cent.RTI activist Anil Galgali said it is strange that the specific RTI query between Ahmedabad-Mumbai, which implied all stations en route, the number of passengers and revenue records and appropriate information should have been provided.He said in the data given under RTI, details of all classes were provided but now that is not available. The RTI reply said that in the 32 trains on Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector, there were 735,630 seats and in 31 trains on Ahmedabad-Mumbai sector, there were 706,446 seats.

"Now, the WR is saying the total number of seats on this sector in 34 trains is much higher. Why the huge discrepancy in the figures given by the WR Chief Commercial Manager under RTI and the WR spokesperson?" Mr Galgali said.Under these circumstances, if the replies provided under RTI are wrong, then the WR should initiate action against the people concerned and Railway Ministry must issue a detailed white paper on the occupancy and revenue status on this crucial sector where the bullet train project is being planned at a cost of over Rs 1 lakh crore, he said.