Indian Railways Announces Fare Hike Effective December 26
Fare Increase Details
On Thursday, Indian Railways revealed a rise in passenger fares, which will take effect from Friday, December 26. This marks the second fare adjustment of the year following an increase in July. According to the railway ministry, under the new fare structure, ticket prices for journeys exceeding 215 kilometers in the general category will see an increase of 1 paisa per kilometer, while non-AC and all AC classes on mail and express trains will experience a hike of 2 paisa per kilometer.
Rationale Behind the Fare Adjustment
Explaining this decision, the railway ministry stated on December 21 that the fare rationalization aims to strike a balance between passenger affordability and the sustainability of railway operations. They clarified that there would be no changes to fares for suburban services and season tickets, and these rules will apply to both suburban and non-suburban routes. Additionally, fares for second-class general journeys up to 215 kilometers will remain unchanged, ensuring that short-distance and daily commuters are not affected.
Specific Fare Increases
For second-class general journeys exceeding 215 kilometers, the fare will increase at various levels: for distances between 216 and 750 kilometers, the increase will be ₹5; for 751 to 1,250 kilometers, it will be ₹10; for 1,251 to 1,750 kilometers, ₹15; and for journeys between 1,751 and 2,250 kilometers, ₹20. The fare for sleeper class ordinary and first-class ordinary for non-suburban journeys will see a uniform increase of 1 paisa per kilometer, which the ministry described as a gradual and moderate rise.
Impact on Mail and Express Services
For mail and express services, both non-AC and AC categories (including sleeper, first class, AC chair car, AC three-tier, AC two-tier, and AC first class) will see a fare increase of 2 paisa per kilometer. For instance, passengers traveling 500 kilometers in a non-AC mail or express coach will need to pay approximately ₹10 more. This revised fare will apply to several services, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Gatimaan, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Garib Rath, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, and Nammo Bharat Rapid Rail trains.