Indian Railways Implements Fare Increase

In a significant move, Indian Railways is set to raise passenger train fares for the first time in several years. The revised rates will take effect from July 1. According to reports, passengers traveling on non-AC mail and express trains will see an increase of 1 paisa per kilometer. A senior railway official stated on Tuesday that there will be a slight fare hike across approximately 13,000 non-AC mail and express trains operating daily throughout the country. For AC class passengers, the fare will rise by 2 paisa per kilometer.

The railway official assured that the new fare structure would not significantly impact passengers' budgets. Fares for suburban trains and monthly season tickets (MST) will remain unchanged, providing relief for daily commuters. Additionally, there will be no fare increase for passengers traveling up to 500 kilometers in the ordinary second class. However, for journeys exceeding 500 kilometers in the general second class, the fare will only increase by half a paisa per kilometer. For instance, a journey of 600 kilometers will see a mere increase of 50 paisa, which is considered minimal.

Earlier, in June 2025, Indian Railways announced a significant change regarding ticket bookings. From July 1, 2025, it will be mandatory to authenticate via Aadhaar for booking instant tickets. The Ministry of Railways issued a directive on June 10, 2025, stating that this measure aims to ensure that the benefits of the instant scheme reach the general public and to prevent misuse by agents. According to the notification from Indian Railways, instant tickets will only be available to those passengers who have completed Aadhaar verification, and bookings can only be made through the official IRCTC website or app.