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Indian Railways is going to change the ticket fare from 26th December. However, this increase will not affect all passengers. Those having short distance, local train and season tickets have been given complete relief in the new rules.
New Delhi. Indian Railways has decided to make a major change for the passengers, which will come into effect from December 26. Under this decision, there has been a slight increase in rail fares in some categories, while many passengers have been given complete relief. Railways says that from this step it is expected to earn additional income of about Rs 600 crore, which will be used for better services and security.
By how much distance will the fare increase?
According to the new rules of Railways, passengers traveling more than 215 kilometers in ordinary class will have to pay an extra 1 paise per kilometre. Whereas in non-AC and AC categories of mail and express trains, this increase will be 2 paise per kilometer. For example, if a passenger travels 500 kilometers in non-AC, he will have to pay about Rs 10 more on the ticket.
These passengers will get complete relief
Railways has made it clear that this increase in fare will not be applicable to those traveling a distance of less than 215 kilometers. Apart from this, there has been no change in the prices of local i.e. sub-urban trains and monthly season tickets. The objective of Railways is to ensure that there is no additional burden on daily commuters and low and middle income families and that their travel remains affordable.
Expenses increased, hence change necessary
According to the Railway Ministry, the railway network has expanded rapidly in the last ten years and now services are reaching remote areas. The number of employees has been increased to improve the safety and facilities of passengers. Due to this, the expenditure on employees has increased to Rs 1.15 lakh crore and the expenditure on pension has reached about Rs 60 thousand crore. The total expenditure of Railways in the financial year 2024-25 has become Rs 2.63 lakh crore.
Freight and future plans
To handle the increasing expenses, Railways is placing more emphasis on freight transportation. Railways says that freight fares have not been increased since 2018, while the costs are continuously increasing. A strategy to increase earnings by carrying more cargo is being worked on. According to the ministry, these reforms have improved safety and made India the second largest freight-carrying railway in the world. Along with this, work is also going on at a fast pace on the high-speed bullet train project in Maharashtra, where 100 percent land acquisition has been completed.
