IN A move to manage the heavy crowd at railway stations and in the trains during Diwali and Chhath festivals, the Ministry of Railways Saturday announced a special “Round Trip Package” with 20% discount on the base fare. The scheme will be rolled out on pilot or experimental basis and will be applicable for those passengers who choose their return journey during the prescribed period.
The ministry said the ticket booking under the scheme will start from August 14 for passengers starting the journey between October 13 and 26. Subsequently, the return journey ticket shall be booked by using the connecting journey feature for trains between November 17 and December 1, 2025. The 60-day limit on advance reservation will not be applicable for booking tickets for the return journey under the scheme.
This scheme will not be applicable on premium trains like Vande Bharat, Rajdhani Express, Tejas Duronto and Shatabdi. Also, in case of cancellation, no refund shall be permissible for the tickets booked under this scheme.
“The scheme shall be allowed for all classes and in all trains including special trains (trains on demand) except trains having flexi fare. Both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode either Internet (online) booking, or counter booking at reservation offices,” said the Ministry in a statement.
The 20% rebate will be permissible only for confirmed tickets in both directions.
Also, with this scheme, no discounts, rail travel coupons, voucher-based bookings, passes or PTOs shall be admissible during the return journey booking, said the ministry.
