Indian Railways has announced a small increase in train fares from December 26 to help raise about Rs 600 crore in extra revenue.Passengers travelling more than 215 km will have to pay a little more. Ordinary Class passengers will pay 1 paisa extra per km.
Passengers travelling in Mail, Express, non-AC and AC classes will pay 2 paise extra per km. For example, someone travelling 500 km in a non-AC coach will pay about Rs 10 more.
There is no increase in fares for journeys shorter than 215 km. Fares for suburban trains and monthly season tickets also remain unchanged so that travel stays affordable for daily commuters and middle-class families.
The Railways said costs have gone up because the network has expanded, services have increased, and safety measures have improved. Manpower costs and pension expenses have also risen sharply. The government says this small fare hike will help manage expenses while continuing to serve passengers across the country.