Antyodaya Express in Chennai Egmore Kanyakumari route

Antyodaya Express in Chennai Egmore Kanyakumari route

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 1405

ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

Antyodaya Express on Chennai Egmore Kanyakumari route

1405 Dr. R. Lakshmanan
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether Government has undertaken any survey regarding the operation of ‘Antyodaya Express’ across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government has any proposal to introduce more Antyodaya Express trains on Chennai-Egmore- Kanyakumari route which is one of the busiest/heavy traffic routes in the country;

(d) if so, details thereof; and

(e) if not, reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b): At present, there are 10 pairs of Antyodaya Express trains which are being operated in different zones. The total number of passengers travelled on Antyodaya Express trains in the financial year 2017-18 and 2018-19 (upto November 2018) was approximately 0.56 million and 1.57 million respectively.

(c) to (e): Chennai-Kanniyakumari sector is presently being served by 3 pairs of train services. Besides, major portion of the Chennai-Kanniyakumari sector is being served by 16191/16192 Tambaram-Tirunelveli Antyodaya Express. At present, there is no proposal for introduction of Antyodaya Express train between Chennai Egmore and Kanniyakumari owing to operational/resource constraints.