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News18
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Shefali Jariwala, The Kaanta Laga Girl, Passes Away At 42 In Mumbai Due To Cardiac Arrest
Shefali Jariwala, The Kaanta Laga Girl, Passes Away At 42 In Mumbai Due To Cardiac Arrest | News18 Last Updated: Breaking News Videos | Shefali Jariwala, the Kaanta Laga girl, passes away at 42 in Mumbai due to cardiac arrestShefali Jariwala, remembered for her hit music video Kaanta Laga and Bigg Boss 13, died of a cardiac arrest at 42. Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai confirmed her death late on 27 June. Her husband Parag Tyagi, along with three others, rushed her to the hospital that night. She was declared dead on arrival. | Harsh Datt n18oc_breaking-newsNews18 Mobile App -
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Indian Railways Hits Record 81 Cr Reserved Bookings In 2024-25, 65% Jump Since 2014-15
Last Updated: Numbers suggest that reserved travel is rising steadily, while non-suburban unreserved travel shows a declining trend The reserved train travel in Indian Railways touched a record in 2024-25 with almost 81 crore passenger bookings across the network, except the Konkan zone, official data accessed by News18 shows. Reserved bookings in 2024-25 rose 65% from 49 crore in 2014-15 and 40% from 59 crore in 2019-20. The numbers suggest that reserved travel is rising steadily, while non-suburban unreserved travel shows a declining trend. However, in absolute numbers, unreserved passengers still far outnumber those in reserved classes. Non-suburban trains—medium and long distance—have broadly two categories of tickets: unreserved and reserved. Unreserved does not offer reserved seating. These tickets are for general coaches, offering seats on a first-come, first-served basis. For reserved classes, including sleeper and AC classes, seats are confirmed. Suburban trains, more famous as local trains, are short-distance trains primarily operating within 100-150 km around a metropolitan city. Daily averages In terms of daily average, in 2024-25, the number of passengers opting for reserved class was 22 lakh as against 65 lakh opting for unreserved travel per day. Clubbed with the suburban class, in 2024-25, on average, about two crore passengers travelled daily on Indian Railways, except the Konkan Zone. In 2014-15, the total passengers were 2.25 crore, mainly from unreserved suburban and non-suburban. In 2014-15, over 13 lakh passengers booked reserved class tickets per day on average as against 89 lakh opting for unreserved class daily, the analysis shows. Unreserved travel in non-suburban trains peaked in 2014-15 with 324 crore passengers. The category has registered a consistent drop since then. In 2024-25, 236 crore passenger bookings were done in the unreserved category–around a 30% drop since 2014-15. Even in the pre-Covid years, the numbers were dropping. In 2019-20, 291 crore unreserved tickets were sold. Why are more people choosing reserved? A senior railway ministry official told News18 that more passengers are choosing reserved travel, possibly due to health safety and hygiene concerns post-pandemic and also due to greater availability of trains and digital ticketing for reserved class. 'At the same time, train tickets are affordable and offer great comforts with trains like Vande Bharat," the official said, requesting anonymity. Another official added that rising middle-class incomes and better affordability allow more passengers to opt for reserved classes. Also, better income, clubbed with better roads, has allowed commuters to drive between cities or take public buses instead of trains. The increase in the reserved class is also due to sufficient trains and better seat management. 'There is no doubt that the reserved class offers a better travel experience. Cleaner coaches and guaranteed seats are attractive, especially for those travelling for longer journeys. Also, in the case of solo travellers, women, and the elderly, reserved coaches are safer compared to crowded unreserved coaches," the second official said. General and non-AC sleeper class accounts for 70% coaches As of April 2024, 70% of Indian Railways' 79,000 coaches—about 56,000—were general or non-AC sleeper class, while the remaining were AC class. In terms of seats, out of the 65 lakh seats, 14 lakh are in the AC class and 51 lakh in general and sleeper. During 2019-20 and 2023-24, AC class travel accounted for 18 per cent of seat bookings and 47% of revenue, while non-AC travel—general and sleeper—accounted for 82% of seat bookings and 53% of revenue, railway data shows. As shown in the graph, the reserved class booking is setting new records every year, the unreserved bookings in the suburban section and the overall passenger bookings across the sections are yet to surpass the pre-Covid numbers. Revenue: Daily earnings hit Rs 207 crore in 2024-25 Revenue generated by Indian Railways from passenger operations has increased from Rs 42,190 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 50,669 crore in 2019-20 and Rs 75,500 crore in 2024-25. Barring the pandemic years, passenger revenue has grown steadily, as shown in the graph. In terms of the average daily passenger revenue generated, the growth is from Rs 116 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 139 crore in 2019-20. Following the pandemic abating, the revenue touched Rs 174 crore daily in 2022-23 and eventually Rs 207 crore in 2024-25. Flexi fare, Tatkal, and Premium Tatkal schemes contributed about 6% of total passenger revenue since 2019-20. top videos View all In 2023-24, the passenger earnings were Rs 70,693 crore—close to 95% of these earnings came from non-suburban passengers, with second and sleeper class mail and express passengers comprising 42.91% of the total passenger earnings. Suburban traffic contributed 4.05% to the total earnings in 2023-24, the ministry data shows. With data indicating a steady shift towards reserved travel, Indian Railways—backed by cleaner coaches, digital ticketing, and a growing middle class—is evolving into a more comfortable, commuter-first transport system. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @ More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : numberspeak railway train travel Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 28, 2025, 08:00 IST News india Indian Railways Hits Record 81 Cr Reserved Bookings In 2024-25, 65% Jump Since 2014-15
News18
8 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
India's Strategic Dilemma Amidst China-Pakistan Alliances
India's Strategic Dilemma Amidst China-Pakistan Alliances | #therightstand with Anand Narasimhan In a recent discussion, Sadanand Dhume analyzes India's strategic position amid rising tensions with China and Pakistan, emphasizing the need for increased defense spending and a stable relationship with Bangladesh, while reflecting on the complexities of regional geopolitics. n18oc_world News18 Mobile App -
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aditya Narayan finally breaks silence on backlash over 'chaddhi na utaari' video: 'This was just one mistake caught on camera'
Udit Narayan and his son Aditya Narayan have long been celebrated figures in the Indian music industry. Aditya has now addressed the controversy surrounding him that occurred in 2017. A video of the singer having a heated exchange with airline staff went viral on social media. In the clip, staff members claimed the singer had verbally abused them. Aditya denied the allegation and was heard saying, 'Teri chaddhi na utaari maine toh mera naam bhi Aditya Narayan nahi.' Aditya Narayan breaks silence on his viral 2017 video In a conversation with News18, Aditya reflected on navigating fame, mistakes, and the downside of being in the public eye. He shared that he never promised anyone to be a perfect human being, and he believes that's the reason why people listen to his music. Aditya expresses that everyone is imperfect and that life is shaped by both good and bad experiences. He believes making mistakes is a natural part of being human and shouldn't be grounds for harsh judgement. The singer further acknowledged his own missteps, 'Do we admit that these are mistakes? Absolutely, why would we not? I am imperfect. Yes, I have made mistakes. I mean, this is just one mistake probably caught on camera, but I have also made other mistakes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo I accept who I am because when you look at the larger picture, the love we receive is incomparable to the scrutiny." Govinda's Comeback Film 'Duniyadari' Creates Buzz | Dance Clip & James Cameron Controversy Explained He further reflected on the reality of being a public figure, admitting that while celebrities enjoy certain privileges and advantages, they are still human and bound to make mistakes. He stated that public outrage tends to be short-lived and often fades as new things come up. He believes it's important to embrace one's true self, which has both strengths and imperfections. Aditya emphasises that fame shouldn't take away a person's right to be human, and he refuses to pretend to be flawless just because he is in the public eye. Aditya about father Udit Narayan's viral kissing video The singer has also reacted to his father Udit Narayan's viral kissing video that created different opinions among industry insiders. He shared, 'Just because he's a living legend now doesn't mean he has suddenly become a demi-god. He's very much human. Trust me. I interact with him regularly, and we have a lot of disagreements (laughs). It's a part of the human experience." Aditya Narayan about social media and its negative space Aditya also talked about how social media often magnifies negativity while ignoring the good. He compares its nature to thriving on controversy. He acknowledged that public figures are just regular people whose personal moments get exaggerated online.
News18
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Ajay Devgn Pens Mushy Note For Kajol On Maa Release: ‘Always In Awe Of Her'
Last Updated: Kajol's Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, is the second film in what is now being dubbed as Ajay Devgn's horror universe, following Shaitaan. Kajol's new horror film Maa has hit theatres, and her biggest cheerleader is none other than her husband, Ajay Devgn. On the day of the film's release, Ajay took to social media to shower love and appreciation on Kajol, leaving fans swooning over their bond. The actor shared two heartwarming pictures of the couple. In the first, Ajay is seen gazing lovingly at Kajol, while in the second, they pose for the camera, exuding elegance and warmth. Alongside the post, Ajay wrote, 'Always in awe of her." The post instantly went viral with fans flooding the comments section. 'Best couple of all time," wrote one fan. Another added, 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi," while many others called them a 'beautiful pair" and praised their enduring relationship. Kajol's Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, is the second film in what is now being dubbed as Ajay Devgn's horror universe, following Shaitaan. Interestingly, Shaitaan is also expected to get a sequel soon. Maa blends mythology, horror, action, and emotion — and early reviews suggest Kajol has delivered one of her finest performances yet. News18's in-house review rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and praised Kajol for being in 'top form" as Ambika. 'It's safe to say that Kajol has delivered one of the most pathbreaking performances in her career. The actress brings the required amount of courage and emotions to Ambika," read the review. It added, 'Maa is a multi-genre experience that carefully blends mythology, horror, action and emotion with finesse. A compelling watch that holds the power to move you emotionally." As Maa continues its theatrical run, fans are not only celebrating Kajol's bold performance but also the sweet public show of support from Ajay Devgn. First Published:
