Important points wrt H/s train:
- Base fare of H/S is already about 15% higher than the SF ACIII fare.
- Currently 331 seats are vacant out of 712 for Puri/BBS
- Out of 712 seats, 356 seats are normal fare tickets which are already sold and rest are flexifare tickets.
*...
more... Only 25 out of 71 seats of 10% flexifare slab which cost about 25% higher than SF ACIII fare,
* For higher flexifare, other options i.e. AC sleeper buses & economy airlines become lucrative.
* Traffic Demand for INDB-BBS/Puri less, actual traffic demand is there for INDB-Durg/Raipur, and HS is having waiting list-9 inspite of 50% flexifares!! So INDB-R-Puri H/S is not succesful because of faulty quota allocation. Quota for R/Durg/BSP is about 300 which is grossly insufficient and for Puri/BBS is much more than required.
* Above pattern indicates that INDB-Durg-R-BSP bi/triweekly SF with enough ac coaches is required as this train shall divert paxs travelling in buses and flight to rail.