Overcrowding on Indian Railways

RECENT railway statistics in India indicate that the enhancement of passenger fares in order to discourage travelling has not had the intended effect. At one time it was believed that the passenger traffic had decreased by 12 to 25 per cent, but later statistics seems to show considerable increase in passenger traffic. The number of passengers carried in 1914-15 exceeded 451 millions and in 1916-17 it increased to the unprecedented figure of 486 millions. When it is remembered that this increase has occurred in spite of the reduction in the number of passenger trains, we can imagine the state of overcrowding that prevails in trains, especially in the lowest class which contributes the bulk of the revenue from passenger traffic. Part of the increase must be due to the movement of troops, but the general public must have contributed by far the greater part.