Ahead Of Diwali & Chhath, Indian Railways Unveils 20% Discount On Return Fares To Ease Festive Rush

New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at easing passenger rush during the high-demand Diwali and Chhath festival season, Indian Railways has announced an experimental scheme offering a 20% rebate on the base fare of return journey tickets under a newly introduced Round Trip Package Scheme. According to Indian Railways, this scheme is expected to benefit lakhs of families planning an extended five-week holiday break during the festive period.

"The initiative is designed to redistribute peak traffic, improve train utilization in both directions, and facilitate hassle-free bookings for passengers travelling to and from their hometowns during this peak period" said an official.

Key features

Booking Starts August 14

Booking for this scheme will open on August 14, 2025, with the onward journey allowed from October 13 to 26. Return journeys can be booked immediately after using the connecting journey feature, even if they fall outside the usual ARP window.

Under this scheme, rebates shall be applicable when booked for both onward and return journey for the same set of passengers. Passenger details of return journey will be same as of onward journey.

Mumbai: ICU Beds Shut Since February 2025 At Shatabdi Hospital Due To Doctor Shortage; Patients Left To Suffer

Booking start date shall be 14th August 2025 for the ARP date 13th October 2025. Onward ticket shall be booked first for the train start date between 13th October 2025 and 26th October 2025 and subsequently return journey ticket shall be booked by using connecting journey feature for the train start date between 17th November and 1st December 2025. Advance reservation period will not be applicable for booking of return journey.

The above booking shall be permissible only for confirmed tickets in both directions.

Total rebates of 20% shall be granted on base fare of return journey only.

Booking under this scheme shall be for the same class and same O-D pair for both onward and return journey.

No refund of fare shall be permissible for the tickets booked under this scheme.

The above scheme shall be allowed for all classes and in all trains including special trains (Trains on demand) except trains having Flexi fare.

No modification will be allowed on these ticket in either of the journey.

Mumbai: Shatabdi Hospital In Govandi Faces Acute Shortage, Patients Forced To Buy Basic Medical Supplies

No discounts, Rail travel coupons, Voucher based bookings, Passes or PTOs etc. shall be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare.

Both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode either, Internet (online) booking, or Counter booking at reservation offices

No additional fare collection will be performed if any arises during charting for these PNRs.