Vande Bharat, a massive failure, running empty even during peak season'; Congress comes with proof

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress unit in Kerala said that many Vande Bharat trains in the country are running empty. KPCC's official X handle said that high fares are being charged for many routes and due to this the number of passengers is decreasing. The Congress criticized pointing IRCTC booking data showing that 50 per cent of Vande Bharat trains in the country have only half of passengers.

This information is in general section excluding Tatkal bookings. Bookings in Vande Bharat are very less despite being holiday season. The Congress also pointed that only the rich can afford Vande Bharat tickets.

VANDE BHARAT | We've decided to prick the 'Vande Bharat' bubble. Analysis of IRCTC booking data reveals that over 50% of Vande Bharat runs either operate with empty or partially filled seats.

This data, sourced from IRCTC just hours before train departures, focuses solely on the… pic.twitter.com/MqlO8wuHKj

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) May 8, 2024

The Congress also criticized pointing to the waiting list in other trains. In a video released by Congress in X handle, it said that even though many seats on Vande Bharat are vacant, the waiting list for other trains is very long.

A similar fate awaits the Ahmedabad - Mumbai Bullet train constructed at the whims of one man, without any consultation. Initially budgeted at ₹1.1 lakh crore, the project's current estimate surpasses ₹1.6 lakh crore, poised to breach ₹2 lakh crore upon completion.

In… pic.twitter.com/sEfSdFlc3C

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) May 8, 2024

While Garib Rath trains offer tickets at Rs 770, Vande Bharat's ticket at Rs 1720 is unaffordable for common people. Is Vande Bharat a practical option for an average traveler? Giving more importance to Vande Bharat is a big problem. Only when a large number of the public can bear the fare of Vande Bharat, it will be good for all. It is important for the country to achieve economic growth. The Congress alleged that the central government is a failure in this regard.