Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will implement a minor fare hike across most categories of passenger trains, as part of a broader strategy to modernize services and meet rising operational costs. However, in a move that provides relief to daily commuters and short-distance travelers, suburban trains, second-class journeys up to 500 km, and monthly season ticket holders will be exempt from the hike.
Fare Revisions by Category
According to a notification from the Ministry of Railways issued on June 24, 2025, the new fare structure will apply to longer-distance trains and premium services. The revised rates are as follows:
- Ordinary Second Class (non-suburban): An increase of 0.5 paise per kilometre
- Mail/Express Trains (non-AC): A hike of 1 paise per kilometre
- Air-Conditioned Classes: Fares to rise by 2 paise per kilometre
For example, a non-AC sleeper class passenger travelling 1,000 km on an express train would now pay ₹10 more. The Railways emphasized that the fare increase is marginal and will have “minimal impact” on the common traveler while helping fund safety and infrastructure upgrades.
A senior official with the Railway Board said, “This small revision is essential for maintaining service quality, upgrading stations, and incorporating new safety technologies. We’ve ensured the hike doesn’t affect short-distance or suburban passengers.”
Categories Exempt from Fare Hike
Several categories of passengers will not be affected by this revision:
- Suburban trains, which are the lifeline for millions of commuters in cities like Mumbai and Chennai
- Second-class non-AC travel up to a distance of 500 km
- Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) for local and semi-local trains
The fare revision will be applicable only to new bookings made from July 1, 2025. All existing bookings made before this date will remain unaffected.
New Aadhaar Rule for Tatkal Tickets
In a significant policy shift aimed at curbing ticketing fraud and improving transparency, Indian Railways has also announced new Aadhaar-based verification rules for Tatkal ticket bookings. Starting July 15, 2025, passengers booking Tatkal tickets must undergo Aadhaar authentication, including an OTP-based second-layer verification to complete their reservation.
This new requirement will apply to bookings made via the IRCTC website and authorized agents. Users must ensure that their Aadhaar is linked to their IRCTC account and mobile number to receive OTPs during the transaction.
The Railways stated this move is intended to reduce ticket hoarding by touts and improve fair access to last-minute tickets. It’s also expected to bring better traceability in the booking process.
An official from IRCTC said, “With Aadhaar-linked OTP authentication, we can ensure that Tatkal bookings are made by genuine users and prevent misuse of the system by automated scripts or fake accounts.”
Mixed Reactions from Passengers
Initial responses from passengers have been mixed. While some welcomed the fare exemption for short routes, others expressed concerns about Aadhaar-based restrictions potentially affecting travelers without easy digital access.
A frequent traveler from Delhi commented, “The fare hike is acceptable given the rising costs, but the Aadhaar requirement might cause trouble for elderly or rural passengers.”
Conclusion
The Indian Railways’ latest measures reflect a balancing act between maintaining affordability for the majority while generating additional revenue for modernization. As the country moves towards digital public infrastructure, the Aadhaar-linked ticketing system also marks another step toward streamlining passenger services.
Sources:
- Ministry of Railways Press Release, June 24, 2025
- IRCTC Official Statement to Press Trust of India (PTI), June 24, 2025
- Interview with Railway Board official (The Hindu, June 25, 2025)
