Lok Sabha Question No. 656 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Quality Service to Railway Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Dhanorkar Pratibha Suresh, Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.656

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## QUALITY SERVICE TO RAILWAY PASSENGERS

†656.    SMT. DHANORKAR  PRATIBHA SURESH:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  railways  has  increased  the  ticket  price  from  1 July 2025, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the manner  in  which  it is likely to affect the general passenger;
- (c) whether there has been any change in the Tatkal reservation policy for train seats since 1 July 2025 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  OTP  has  been  made  mandatory    for  Tatkal  ticket booking  from  1  July  2025  and  the  time  schedule  for  Tatkal ticket booking by agents has been changed, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  quota  or  number  of  seats  available  under  the Tatkal scheme has also been changed and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the eligibility criteria or documentation required for booking Tatkal tickets have also been modified and if so, the details thereof;
- (g) the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to provide quality services to the passengers;
- (h) whether the Government has observed any positive effect till date due to said changes and if so, the details thereof;
- (i) the increase likely to be made in the revenue of Railways from these changes; and
- (j) the  details  of  the  measures  are  likely  to  be  taken  by  the Railway  Administration  to  reduce  the  increase  in  railway fares?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (j) Indian Railways provide affordable transportation service to more than 720 crore passengers. The fares of Indian Railways are among  the  lowest in the world,  even  when compared with the neighbouring countries.

Subsidy:  The  total  amount  of  subsidy  given  in  FY  2023-24  on passenger travel is provisionally estimated at Rs. 60,466 Crore. This amounts to 45 % subsidy on the cost of passenger travel.

Fares have been rationalized w.e.f. 01  July 2025 after a gap of more than 5 years. The increase in fares is very low, ranging from half paise per km to two paise per km for premium classes.

## The details of the fare revision are as follows:

- i) No  increase  in  Second  Class  Ordinary  up  to  500  km  and thereafter  Half  paisa  increase  in  fare  per  passenger  per kilometer.
2. ii) Half  paisa  increase  in  fare  per  passenger  per  kilometer  in Sleeper Class Ordinary and First-Class Ordinary.
3. iii) 01  Paisa  increase  per  passenger  per  kilometer  in  Non-AC Classes in Mail Express.
4. iv) 02  paisa  increase  per  passenger  per  kilometer  in  reserved AC- Classes.

To maintain affordability for low and middle income families, the fares for MST and Suburban travel have not been revised.

Further, the fare revision is likely to have insignificant impact on the total amount of subsidy because the revision ranges from half paise to 2 paise only per kilometer of travel.

It is estimated that less than half the trips will have a marginal increase  in  fare.  For  example,  for  a  low-income  traveller  in general coach, there is no fare increase for 500 km travel.

With a view to have ease of access and transparency in tatkal booking and to curb the  malpractices by unscrupulous elements the tatkal ticket booking system has been modified as follows:-

-  With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal Scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users.
-  Authorized ticketing agents of Indian Railways are not allowed  to  book  opening  day  Tatkal  tickets  during  the  first thirty minutes for AC as well as non-AC Classes i.e. they shall not be allowed to book opening day Tatkal tickets from 1000 hours  to  1030  hours  for  AC  Classes  and  from  1100  hours  to 1130 hours for non-AC Classes.
-  OTP based Tatkal tickets booking has not been introduced as yet.

Powers for earmarking Tatkal accommodation in different classes have already been delegated to Zonal Railways. There is no change in the provision.

Various  initiatives  have  been  undertaken  by  the  Ministry  of Railways in providing safe, comfortable, and quality services to passengers which includes the following:

-  Upgradation of passenger amenities at stations under schemes like Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
-  Introduction of modern trains such as Vande Bharat, Non-AC Amrit  Bharat  trains  and  Namo  Bharat  Rapid  Trains  etc.  to enhance  passenger  experience,  cleanliness,  and  onboard services.
-  Enhanced monitoring and feedback mechanisms through Rail Madad.
-  Implementation  of  digital  initiatives  such  as  Rail  one  app, UTS on Mobile App etc.

The  above  measures  have  resulted  in  increased  passenger satisfaction. With focus on operational efficiency modernization and  digitization  Indian  Railways  aims  to  maintain  affordable passenger fares while improving quality of services and ensuring financial sustainability.

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