In a significant move aimed at easing the financial burden on commuters, the Indian Railways announced the restoration of Second Class Ordinary Fares on ‘Passenger Trains’ on February 27, 2024. The trains, which had undergone a nomenclature change to ‘Express Specials’ or ‘MEMU/DEMU Express,’ will now see a substantial reduction in minimum fares, offering relief to daily-wage workers, small vendors, and other economically disadvantaged passengers.
Following the gradual withdrawal of ‘Passenger Trains’ and the subsequent increase in minimum ticket costs from ₹10 to ₹30 post-COVID-19 lockdown, the Railway Board took prompt action in response to concerns raised by The Hindu. The newspaper’s report shed light on the increased financial burden faced by passengers, particularly those from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds.
In a review meeting convened by the Railway Board on Monday, the decision was made to revert to the older fare structure. Chief Booking Reservation Supervisors were promptly informed, and the changes took effect from the early hours of Tuesday. The move is expected to positively impact those who heavily depend on slow-moving trains for their daily commute.
The report ‘Railways brings down the curtain on ‘passenger trains” prompted the Railway Board to address the concerns raised and take corrective action. The end of the era of ‘Passenger Trains’ had inadvertently led to a situation where passengers were paying double the fare for the same journey on rebranded ‘Express Specials’ or MEMU trains.
Acting on the instructions of General Managers, the Principal Chief Commercial Managers of Zonal Railways implemented the fare revisions. The fares in Ordinary Class were slashed by approximately 50%, providing substantial relief to commuters across the country.
With the fare reduction applicable to all Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) and trains with numbers starting with ‘Zero,’ the move is expected to benefit a wide range of passengers. The revision also extends to the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) App, making the fare adjustment accessible and convenient for travelers.
This decision is a commendable step towards making rail travel more affordable, especially for those who rely on slow-moving trains for their daily transportation needs.
