Railways Introduces 20% Discount on Return Tickets This Festive Season

Quick Summary

• The Railway Ministry has announced a 20% discount on return journey tickets to manage increased passenger demand during the festival season.
• The offer applies to tickets booked for onward journeys between October 13-26,2025,and return journeys between November 17 and December 1,2025.
• Ticket bookings under this scheme will begin on August 14,2025.
• The rebate applies only to confirmed tickets and both legs of the journey must be for the same set of passengers, in the same class, and between the same origin-destination pair.
• Flexi fare trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duranto are excluded from this scheme.
• A single booking process is required using a connecting journey feature for onward and return travel.
• refunds will not be permitted for tickets booked under this scheme.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This initiative by the Railway Ministry aims to alleviate congestion during India’s high-travel festival season while providing monetary relief to passengers with its limited-time discounts. However, exclusion of prominent flexi fare trains may limit accessibility for some travelers seeking premium options during peak demand periods.

By requiring synchronized ticket bookings through a specific framework (same passengers/class/origin-destination), this move also encourages planning efficiency among travelers but might introduce logistical challenges where flexibility is needed due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., plan changes). Passengers should evaluate their needs carefully as no refund mechanisms are allowed under this scheme.

With strategic timing before major festivals beginning mid-August onwards-traditionally marked by heavy railway usage-this announcement could help optimize transport flows while stimulating earlier reservations.

Read more at: The Hindu