NEW DELHI: Vande Bharat Express, the premium trains in India, totally upended the concept of elite travel experience for Indians. Despite the higher ticket prices, Vande Bharat is a super hit on most of the routes served in the country. The occupancy rate is much higher than 100 per cent in both trains operating in Kerala.

Now, national media reports that the central government is considering reducing the ticket prices for Vande Bharat. The plan is to bring down the ticket prices to a level deemed affordable for the common man. The difference in ticket prices is also visible as the cost of Vande Bharat is much higher than the service operation and maintenance costs of other trains.

The cost of running a Vande Bharat train per 1,000 km ranges from Rupees five to eight lakh. Rs 3.5 lakh is set aside for energy purposes alone. Rs 50,000 is set aside from each service for the salaries of the employees. Cleaning, catering, and other services are provided on par with those on an aeroplane, which makes for the high ticket rate.

If the decision to reduce ticket prices is implemented, it will provide the greatest relief to ordinary passengers. However, the new decision might increase the demand for tickets and would make booking tickets a perilous task again.