Lok Sabha Question No. 1673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Increase in Railway Fare and Amenities to passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Kalyan Banerjee, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni, Shri Azad Kirti Jha, Shri Asaduddin Owaisi, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Benny Behanan, Shri K Radhakrishnan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1673

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025

## INCREASE IN RAILWAY FARE AND AMENITIES TO PASSENGERS

## 1673. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:

SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:

SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently increased various charges  including  ticket  fares,  reservation  fees,  platform  tickets, parcel  rates  and  other  service  charges,  if  so,  the  details  of  each type of charge increased along with the date of implementation;
- (b) the average amount of increase in passenger ticket fares (for sleeper, 3AC, 2AC and general class) across different zones;
- (c) the reasons for introducing fare hikes after a five year gap and the  factors  that  were  considered  in  determining  the  revised  fare slabs particularly for distance between 501 km and 3000 km;
- (d)
- the details of the last fare revision that took place before this;
- (e) the  estimated  additional  revenue  expected  to  be  generated annually from this fare hike;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  a  specific  plan  for  utilizing  the increased revenue, and if so, the details thereof;
- (g) the manner in which the Government plans to ensure that the increased  revenue  directly  contributes  to  easing  train  travel  for passengers particularly in terms of safety, punctuality, comfort and availability of services;
- (h) the  measures  being  taken  to  improve  passenger  services, operational  sustainability  and  comfort  in  return  to  increase  fare costs and the percentage of price hiking will be used for passenger amenities thereof;
- (i) whether the Government has any plan to review or rationalise the  increased  charges  in  light  of  public  feedback  or  economic hardship;
- (j) whether the fare revision will affect concessional fares, senior citizen discounts, and free travel categories, if so, the details of any exemptions retained under the new structure;
- (k) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  fare  hike  may disproportionately affect daily students especially those relying on sleeper and general class, if so, the details thereof; and
- (l) whether the Government considers reinstating concessions for vulnerable categories like senior citizens and patients particularly in light  of  the  increased  burden  form  the  fare  hike,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (l) Indian Railways provides 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.

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

subsidy on the cost of passenger travel. In other words, if the cost of providing service is ₹100, then the price of ticket is ₹55 only. This subsidy  is  continuing  for  all  passengers.  Further,  concessions beyond this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories of persons  with  disabilities  (Divyangjans),  11  categories  of  patients and 8 categories of students.

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 general class 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 ACClasses.

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 coaches, there is no fare increase for 500 km travel.

Prior to this, the fare rationalization in basis fare of rates was done on 01.01.2020 wherein fare was increased by 1 paisa per kilometer in case of ordinary (Non-AC) non-suburban; increased by 2 paise per Kilometer  for  Non-AC  classes  of  Mail/Express  and  increased  by  4 paise  per  kilometer  for  AC  classes.  There  was  no  increase  in suburban fare and season tickets.

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.

*****