The Kerala division of the Congress party criticized the high fares and low occupancy of Vande Bharat trains across various routes in India. Referring to an analysis of booking data from IRCTC, the party stated that more than half of the Vande Bharat trains operated with empty or partially filled seats.

According to the party's tweets, the IRCTC data, focusing on General category bookings and excluding Tatkal bookings, showed surprisingly low bookings for Vande Bharat trains, despite increased holiday travel. The party highlighted economic disparities, noting that affluent regions could afford Vande Bharat fares more easily than economically disadvantaged areas.

In a video shared by the party's Kerala unit, waiting lists on other trains were contrasted with unoccupied seats on Vande Bharat trains, suggesting high demand for cheaper alternatives. The party compared Vande Bharat ticket prices to those of Garib Rath trains, emphasizing the prohibitive cost of Vande Bharat for ordinary travelers.

Questioning the viability of Vande Bharat for average commuters, the Congress's Kerala unit highlighted instances where opting for Vande Bharat incurred significantly higher costs than traveling via Garib Rath trains. The party underscored the need for Indian Railways to cater to diverse passenger demographics and criticized the government's excessive focus on Vande Bharat trains.

The Congress alleged that the government's economic policies had failed to ensure affordability, resulting in expensive trains running empty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated 10 Vande Bharat trains on different routes in March, and during an election rally in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, on May 5, he claimed that the Opposition had threatened to discontinue free ration schemes and Vande Bharat trains if they came to power.