Indian Railways Fare Hike From July 1: Tatkal Bookings To Require Aadhaar Authentication

Indian Railways will implement a small fare hike across various categories of passenger trains. The move is aimed at addressing rising operational expenses while limiting the financial impact on regular and short-distance travelers.

For non-AC Mail and Express trains, fares will rise by 1 paise per kilometre. Passengers travelling in AC classes-including AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and First AC-will see a fare increase of 2 paise per kilometre.

Ordinary second-class tickets for journeys up to 500 kilometres will remain unaffected by the fare revision, providing continued relief for short-distance and daily commuters. However, for second-class travel beyond 500 kilometres, the hike will be limited to half a paise per kilometre.

There will be no increase in fares for suburban train services or Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs), ensuring urban and suburban commuters are not impacted by the revision.

According to the Railway Ministry, the fare hike is modest and meant to recover part of the increased costs related to fuel, maintenance, and infrastructure development. Officials noted that the financial burden on passengers would be minimal-just ₹1 more for a 100 km journey in non-AC classes and ₹2 more in AC classes.

In addition to the fare adjustment, new security measures for Tatkal ticket bookings will also be introduced starting July 1. Aadhaar authentication will become mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets online through the IRCTC platform. To further strengthen the verification process, OTP-based authentication will begin on July 15.

Moreover, to reduce misuse and tout activity during peak booking times, authorized agents will be barred from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the opening window each day.

These measures reflect Indian Railways' ongoing efforts to ensure financial stability, enhance ticketing security, and maintain affordability for millions of passengers across the country.