Indian Railways to Hike Passenger Fares from July 1, Introduce New Tatkal Booking Norms
Indian Railways is set to implement a revised fare structure for passenger trains starting July 1, 2025, marking the first fare increase since the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes alongside significant changes to the Tatkal train ticket booking system, focusing on enhanced authentication and revised agent booking windows.
Passenger Fare Hike Details
According to details accessed by The Economic Times, the fare increase is minimal and designed to impact various passenger segments differently:
- Non-AC Mail and Express trains: Fares will rise by 1 paisa per kilometre.
- AC classes: Fares will see an increase of 2 paise per kilometre.
- Suburban tickets: There will be no increase in suburban fares.
- Monthly season tickets: Prices will remain unchanged.
- Ordinary second class (up to 500 km): There will be no fare hike for distances up to 500 km.
- Ordinary second class (beyond 500 km): The fare will increase by half a paisa per kilometre.
These changes aim to introduce a minor adjustment to ticket prices while largely protecting daily commuters and short-distance travelers.
New Tatkal Ticket Booking Regulations
In a significant announcement earlier this month, Indian Railways revealed new requirements for Tatkal train ticket bookings, aiming “to ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by the common end users.”
Aadhaar Authentication:
- Effective July 1, 2025: Tatkal tickets can only be booked through the official Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or its app by Aadhaar authenticated users.
- Effective July 15, 2025: An additional step of Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be required for travelers while booking Tatkal tickets.
Restrictions for Authorized Booking Agents: The new guidelines also introduce limitations on Tatkal ticket reservations for authorized booking agents of Indian Railways:
- Agents are now barred from booking first-day Tatkal tickets within the initial half-hour window.
- This restriction is effective from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM for AC class bookings.
- For non-AC class bookings, the restriction applies from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
The Railway Ministry has directed both the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to implement the necessary system modifications to facilitate these changes and ensure clear communication to all zonal railway divisions. This comprehensive initiative seeks to streamline the Tatkal reservation process and make it more accessible and fair for genuine travelers.
