After maintaining stable prices for years, Indian Railways is set to increase passenger train fares from July 1, 2025, marking the first such hike since the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside, the Ministry of Railways has also introduced new Aadhaar-based authentication rules for Tatkal ticket bookings to improve fairness and reduce misuse.
What Are the New Fare Hikes?
According to sources from The Economic Times, the fare revision will be minor but impactful, especially for long-distance travelers.
Here’s how the new pricing will work:
- Suburban fares: No hike
- Monthly season tickets: Unchanged
- Ordinary second class (up to 500 km): No change
- Ordinary second class (beyond 500 km): 0.5 paise/km increase
- Mail/Express trains (Non-AC): 1 paise/km increase
- AC classes: 2 paise/km increase
This fare hike comes after years of stable pricing, especially as the Railways navigated post-pandemic recovery. It’s aimed at offsetting rising operational costs while keeping public transportation largely affordable.
Aadhaar Now Mandatory for Tatkal Bookings
In a parallel move, Indian Railways will mandate Aadhaar authentication for all Tatkal ticket bookings via the IRCTC website or app, starting July 1, 2025. The ministry says this is being implemented to ensure that “the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by genuine users.”
A second layer of authentication — OTP verification using Aadhaar — will be required starting July 15, 2025, tightening the process even further.
Booking Agents Face New Restrictions
To crack down on bulk bookings and unfair practices, Indian Railways has also imposed new restrictions on authorised booking agents:
- AC Tatkal tickets: Agents barred from booking between 10:00–10:30 AM
- Non-AC Tatkal tickets: Booking blocked between 11:00–11:30 AM
This measure is aimed at giving common users a fairer chance to book tickets during the high-demand window.
Why This Matters
Together, these updates mark a significant shift in how Indian Railways is balancing efficiency, transparency, and cost recovery. While the fare hike is modest, the Aadhaar-linked Tatkal reform shows a strong intent to reduce misuse and ensure that critical services reach the right people.
As systems update and changes roll out, travelers are advised to plan accordingly and stay updated on IRCTC booking guidelines.
Impact of 2-Paisa Per Km Hike on AC 3-Tier Fare: New Delhi to Mumbai
With Indian Railways implementing a 2-paisa per kilometre fare hike for AC classes starting July 1, 2025, the cost of an AC 3-tier ticket between New Delhi and Mumbai (a distance of approximately 1,334 km) will rise marginally. At ₹0.02 per kilometre, the total increase comes to ₹26.68. This pushes the current ticket price from ₹1,105 to around ₹1,131.68. While the hike may seem modest, it reflects Indian Railways’ broader attempt to balance rising operational costs with passenger affordability. For frequent travellers, this small increment could gradually add up over multiple journeys.
