After a section of media reported that Indian Railways has hiked ticket prices in 2021, the ministry has clarified that ticket prices remain the same. Terming the reports misleading, the ministry said that there has been no change in ticket fares.
In a statement, the railways said, “This year there has been pent up demand on many sectors on which the festival trains were running. These festival trains have been continued to clear the rush. As per established practice, the fare for such trains has been kept a little higher since 2015. Nothing new is being done this year.”
Railways have taken special care about the travel by those travelling by lowest fare in trains so that even in Covid times they bear the least burden. As per the policy, 2S passengers, even in special fare cases are not charged more than additional Rs 15, it said.
The statement further read, festival, holiday special trains were started as per the long-standing practice to clear the rush. Festivals have been continuing and even today the harvest festival is being celebrated. This year there has been pent up demand in many sectors on which the festival trains were running. These festival trains have been continued to clear the rush. The fare for such trains has been kept a little higher since 2015. Nothing new is being done this year. This is an established practice.
Even during challenging times of Covid, Indian Railways has operationalized almost 60 % of the Mail/Express trains as compared to the pre lock down times. 77% of these special trains have fares of regular trains. Around 250 trains daily are running as trains with special fares. Total 1058 Mail/Express, 4807 suburban services & 188 passenger trains are presently in operation average on a daily basis.
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