Platform ticket to cost Rs 5 from May 1

New Delhi, May 1: Get ready to shell out Rs 5 instead of Rs 3 for entering railway platforms across the country as the increased platform ticket rate will come into effect from Tuesday, May 1.

The hike in platform ticket was announced in the Rail Budget in Parliament and accordingly the new rate of platform ticket would be Rs 5 instead of Rs 3, a senior Railway Ministry official said.

The increased rate of platform tickets will be charged on tickets issued from May 1. A platform ticket is valid for two hours.

Proposals to increase train fares across the board along with platform ticket were announced by the then Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in the budget.

Trivedi was sacked by Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee for proposing hike in train fares and subsequently, new Railway Minister Mukul Roy rolled back the hike proposal barring higher classes. Increase in platform ticket price was, however, not rolled back.

Railways have given instruction to all zonal railways to print the revised tickets on top priority basis and ensure supply to all stations well in time.

Till that time, old stock of tickets may be used with rate corrected with stamp, said a circular issued by the Commercial department of railways.

Railways have also given instructions for the modification in software for issuing platform ticket with new rate through ticket vending machines at stations.

PTI