Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Indian Railways is set to implement a marginal fare hike starting July 1, primarily affecting long-distance travelers on mail and express trains across both non-AC and AC classes. The adjustment, aimed at rationalizing costs, will not impact suburban or short-distance commuters.
Minimal impact expected on overall travel costs
According to railway officials, fares for non-AC mail and express trains will increase by 1 paisa per kilometre, while AC class tickets will go up by 2 paisa per kilometre. With nearly 13,000 services operating daily nationwide, this change could affect a large segment of passengers, though officials stress the financial burden will remain low.
Short-distance, suburban travel spared fare hike
In a significant relief to regular commuters, suburban train fares and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) will remain unchanged. Additionally, passengers travelling up to 500 kilometres in ordinary second-class coaches will not see any fare change. For those travelling beyond 500 km in general second class, the increase will be just 0.5 paisa per kilometre — translating to a modest 50 paise for a 600 km journey.