Source The Hindu
New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways on Thursday announced a revision in passenger train fares, with the new ticket prices coming into effect from December 26. The move marks the first broad-based fare adjustment in recent years and is aimed at addressing rising operational costs and improving the financial health of Indian Railways.
According to an official notification, the fare hike will apply across select classes and train categories, including mail and express services. While suburban services and second-class ordinary tickets have largely been spared, passengers travelling in reserved classes such as Sleeper, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and AC First Class will see a marginal increase in fares.
Railway officials said the revision has been calibrated to minimise the burden on common travellers while ensuring additional revenue to support infrastructure upgrades, safety measures and service quality. “The increase is modest and necessary to offset higher input costs such as fuel, maintenance and staff expenses,” a senior official said.
The revised fares will be applicable to tickets booked on or after December 26. Tickets booked prior to the effective date will not be impacted, even if the journey is scheduled for a later date, the Railways clarified.
Passenger groups have expressed mixed reactions to the decision. While some acknowledged the need for better services and modernisation, others raised concerns about affordability, especially during the peak travel season.
Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest rail networks, carries over 20 million passengers daily. The ministry has maintained that any future fare revisions will continue to balance passenger interests with the long-term sustainability of the national transporter.
