Indian Railways Hikes Fares from Dec 26: Longer Journeys Cost More

• Indian Railways to hike train fares starting December 26.
• Non-AC tickets to cost Rs 10 more for every 500 km; Mail/Express non-AC and AC fares up by 2 paise per km.
• No fare hike for suburban services, Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs), or journeys up to 215 km in ordinary class.
• Hike aims to cover increased operational costs, manpower, and pension expenses.
• Expected to generate an additional Rs 600 crore annually for the Railways.

Why It Matters: Indian Railways increases fares from Dec 26 to offset rising operational costs, excluding local services.