New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at shoring up revenues and enhancing transparency, Indian Railways has announced a revision in passenger train fares, effective July 1, 2025. This marks the first fare increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, a measure primarily designed to offset escalating operational costs and inflationary pressures.
The revised fare structure will see varying increases across different travel classes and routes. Importantly, daily commuters and budget travellers can breathe a sigh of relief as suburban train services and ordinary second-class travel for distances up to 500 km will remain untouched by the hike. For ordinary second-class journeys exceeding 500 km, passengers will see a marginal increase of 0.5 paise per kilometre. Those travelling in Non-AC Mail/Express trains will face a 1 paise per kilometre hike, while all AC classes will experience a 2 paise per kilometre increase. This calibrated revision is expected to generate much-needed revenue, which the Railways plans to channel towards crucial infrastructure upgrades and service enhancements across its vast network.
In a parallel development set to revolutionise the Tatkal booking system, the Ministry of Railways has made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for all Tatkal ticket bookings, also commencing July 1, 2025. Under this new directive, only users with verified Aadhaar identities will be permitted to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app. To further fortify this measure, Aadhaar-based OTP verification will be rolled out from July 15, adding an extra layer of security to the booking process.
Furthermore, a stringent crackdown on malpractices by intermediaries is in effect. IRCTC-authorised agents will now be barred from booking Tatkal tickets during the critical first 30 minutes of the booking window. This means agents cannot book AC Tatkal tickets between 10:00 am and 10:30 am, and Non-AC Tatkal tickets between 11:00 am and 11:30 am. The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has been tasked with undertaking the necessary system upgrades to ensure seamless implementation and compliance across all railway zones. These comprehensive reforms underscore Indian Railways’ unwavering commitment to delivering a more secure, transparent, and passenger-friendly travel experience, all while striving for operational sustainability.
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