Rail ministry quietly doubles price of platform tickets

The ubiquitous habit of Indians of arriving at railway platforms in hordes to see off their near and dear ones will get another check from 1 April, when the price of platform tickets at stations will double to Rs10 from Rs5 now, a railway ministry official statement said today.

"The ministry of railways has decided to upwardly revise the rate of platform ticket to Rs10 per ticket from Rs5 per ticket. The revised rate of platform ticket will be charged on platform ticket to be issued from 1 April 2015," the statement said.

This particular measure was not mentioned in the railway budget announced in parliament last month.

"Directions have been sent to all zonal railways to print the revised tickets on top priority and ensure supply to all stations well in time. However, till such time the tickets are printed, the existing stock of tickets may be used with the rate corrected with a stamp," it added.

The ministry has also delegated the power to divisional railway managers (DRMs) to increase the rate of platform tickets beyond Rs10 to regulate rush at platforms during specific periods like a rally, the statement added.