Train Fares to Go Up Slightly from July; Aadhaar OTP Must for Tatkal Bookings

Starting next month, passengers may see a slight increase in train fares, according to senior officials from the Ministry of Railways. The proposed fare hike will be modest—non-air-conditioned Mail and Express train fares are expected to rise by 1 paisa per kilometre, while air-conditioned classes will see an increase of 2 paise per kilometre.

Officials clarified that this revision is significantly lower than previous fare hikes introduced in 2020 and 2013. “This is among the smallest fare adjustments we’ve made,” a ministry official told PTI. The revised pricing structure will not affect suburban trains or monthly season ticket holders, in order to protect daily commuters from added financial burden.

Additionally, for short-distance journeys up to 500 kilometres in second-class, fares will remain unchanged. Beyond that range, a marginal increase of half a paisa per kilometre is likely.

The last time ticket prices were raised was on January 1, 2020. At that time, second-class fares for Mail/Express trains were raised by 2 paise/km, and sleeper and AC classes saw hikes of 2 and 4 paise/km respectively. Earlier, in 2013, fare adjustments were even steeper, with increases of up to 10 paise/km for certain AC categories.

Aadhaar Authentication to Be Rolled Out for Tatkal Bookings

In a parallel move aimed at tightening security and preventing misuse of the reservation system, the Railways will begin implementing Aadhaar-linked verification for Tatkal ticket bookings.

From July 1, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be required for users booking Tatkal tickets via IRCTC’s official website and mobile app. Starting July 15, this verification step will become mandatory for all online Tatkal bookings.

The same rule will apply at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised booking agents. Passengers will need to verify their identity via an OTP sent to the mobile number they provide at the time of reservation.

These changes are part of the Railways’ broader effort to enhance transparency and reduce unauthorised bookings.