India, Feb. 12 -- The fare of the Vande Bharat AC chair car for a 300-400-kilometre journey is around Rs 2.19 per kilometre, which is much lower than the fares for similar services in countries such as China, Japan and France, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. According to Vaishnaw, the fares in these countries range from Rs 7 to Rs 20 per kilometre.

"The Ministry of Railways, while deciding the fare structure of various types of passenger services, gives due consideration to aspects like the cost of service, value of service, type of services and facilities offered, affordability, competition from other competing modes and socio-economic considerations," Vaishnaw said while resp...