COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR No.19 of 2003

Government Of India/Bharat Sarkar
Ministry of Railways/Rail Mantralaya
(Railway Board)

New Delhi 26.3.2003

To
General Managers, 
All Indian Railways
OSDs,

Sub: Adjustments in Passenger Fares effective from April 1, 2003 – Railway Budget 2003-04.

Sanction of Central Government is hereby accorded to the following adjustments in Passenger Fares
effective from April 1, 2003:- 

1.0       There will be no increase in passenger fares for the year 2003-04. 

2.0             Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains  

2.1       The fare structures for Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains have been rationalised. The basic fares for each class of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains have been linked to the fares for Mail/Express trains and will be 15 per cent higher than the fares of corresponding class of Super Fast Mail/Express trains on a uniform basis. In a few cases, where the rationalised fares are marginally higher, the existing fares have been retained. The basic fares for Executive Class of Shatabdi Express trains have been kept two times the basic fares of AC Chair Car of these trains. 

2.2       The rationalised fare structures indicating the basic fares for Rajdhani Express trains and Shatabdi Express trains are enclosed as Annexure I and Annexure II respectively.  The basic fares for Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains are inclusive of Reservation Fee and Supplementary charge for Super Fast trains, which will not be levied separately.  The actual charges for Catering services, as per the requirement of the journey will be added to the basic fares of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains and the amount so arrived will be rounded off to the next higher multiple of Rs.5. Accordingly, the chargeable fares of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains between a pair of stations may be different in UP and Down directions of the trains in some cases. The Safety Surcharge will be levied additionally as applicable.  

3.0       Jan Shatabdi Express trains  

3.1       The fares for Jan Shatabdi Express trains have been reduced. The fares for each class of these trains have been fixed 5 per cent higher than the fares of corresponding class of Super Fast Mail/Express trains on a uniform basis.  The catering services on Jan Shatabdi Express trains have been made optional.  Accordingly, no charges for catering services are required to be added to the fares. The Safety Surcharge will be levied additionally as applicable.

3.2       The revised fare structure for Jan Shatabdi Express trains is enclosed as Annexure-III. 

4.0       Point-to-point fares 

4.1       Accordingly, the point-to-point fares for all pairs of stations, including intermediate to intermediate stations, for Jan Shatabdi, Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains shall be notified by the Zonal Railways well in advance, ensuring adequate publicity of the revised fares and related instructions for the information of the travelling public.   

5.0       Fares for non-peak period   

5.1       The concept of reduced fares during non-peak periods in selected trains has been introduced. As an experimental measure, the basic fares of AC First Class and    AC 2-Tier in all Rajdhani Express trains will be reduced by 10%, for journeys scheduled to commence during the period from 15.07.2003 to 15.09.2003 only (both dates inclusive). 

5.2       Accordingly, Zonal Railways will also notify the point-to-point fares for the above non-peak period in accordance with the existing instructions. 

5.3       Zonal Railways may closely monitor the performance of Rajdhani Express trains during non-peak period from 15.07.2003 to 15.09.2003 and send a detailed report giving train-wise and class-wise details in regard to (i) total number of berths available, (ii) total number of passengers booked and (iii) passenger earnings during this period as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. 

6.0       The General Secretary, IRCA has been requested to print and supply the new Passenger Fare Tables which will be effective from 01.04.2003. Each Railway will ensure that the requisite number of copies of the new Passenger Fare Tables is collected from I.R.C.A. Office and distributed to the concerned staff well in advance.   

7.0 Refund of difference in fares 

7.1       In the case of tickets already issued at pre-revised rates for Jan Shatabdi, Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains,
the refund of difference of chargeable fares shall be granted by any of the following options, at the discretion of the passenger
as under: - 

(i)    Full difference in chargeable fare, without deducting any cancellation charge or clerkage, shall be refunded on production of the ticket issued at pre-revised rates, during working hours, at any PRS terminal. In case, the refund is sought by the passenger (s) before commencement of journey, the original ticket will be surrendered for the purpose of granting refund and fresh ticket with revised rates will be issued keeping the reservation status of the
passengers (s) intact. 

(ii)        The passenger(s) may, after completion of journey take refund from any PRS terminal within 3 days of the completion of journey. Thereafter, they may send the original ticket to CCM (Refunds) of originating or terminating Zonal Railway, along with an application, for refund of difference of chargeable fares.  On receipt of application & original ticket, CCM (Refunds) will grant immediate refund of full difference of fare to passenger, without deducting any cancellation charge.  For such cases, vetting of associate Finance need not be obtained.   

8.0       The revised fares will also apply to tickets issued in advance for journeys to commence on or after 01.04.2003.  Until new tickets are printed (in exceptional cases where printed Card Tickets are used), old tickets may be issued after having necessary corrections in fares made on such tickets in advance.  Such alterations by the staff should be made preferably with a stamp or in ink.  A suitable notice in the Press should be given advising that till such time new tickets are printed and made available, the existing tickets with alterations in fares on such tickets would be issued. 

9.0       Commercial Officers, Commercial Inspectors & TIAs should visit, and also conduct surprise checks, at all stations to ensure that fares & other charges are levied and tickets issued as per the revised rates effective from 01.04.2003.  The Fare Lists for the information of public at the railway stations should be revised and corrected on 01.04.2003 showing the new fares with effect from 01.04.2003. 

10.0    Necessary changes may be incorporated in PRS, manual ticketing system, SPTMs, UTSs, etc., wherever required.  

11.0    Special arrangements should be made to ensure that necessary instructions and the revised Passenger Fare Tables reach the staff well in time.  Steps should also be taken to ensure that the staff fully understand these changes and implement them properly. 

12.0    This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.  The revised fare tables and these instructions can also be obtained on the internet at the Indian Railway website   www.indianrailways.gov.in 

(Hindi version will follow)

( R.P. Thakur)
Director (Passenger Marketing)
Railway Board