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Indian Railways Offers 20% Off on Return Tickets for Festival Travel
- Launch Date – Indian Railways started a new travel offer on August 9, 2025 for the busy Diwali and Chhath festival
- Fare Incentive – If you book a round trip (going and coming back), you will get 20% discount on the return ticket’s base fare.
- Crowd Control – This offer is made to control huge crowds during the festival season and make sure trains are full in both directions.
Booking Timeline & Journey Windows
- Booking Start – Booking of tickets under this scheme will begin on August 14, 2025.
- Onward Window – You can travel from your home to your destination between October 13 and October 26, 2025.
- Return Window – Your return journey must fall between November 17 and December 1, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria & Conditions
- Confirmed Tickets – Both going and return tickets must be confirmed, no waitlist or RAC.
- Same Class – You must travel in the same class (for example, Sleeper or AC 3-Tier) for both trips.
- Same Route – Your journey must be between the same two stations in both directions.
- Matching Details – Passenger names, age, and other details must be exactly the same for both tickets.
- Same Booking Mode – You must book both tickets either online through IRCTC or offline at the station counter—can’t mix the two.
- Train Exclusions – This offer is not valid on Rajdhani, Shatabdi, or Duronto trains, or on any trains with Flexi-fare pricing.
Discount, Refund, and Modification Rules
- Rebate Scope – The 20% discount is only on the base fare of the return ticket, not on onward fare or extra charges like GST, catering, or reservation fees.
- No Refunds – Once booked, you cannot cancel, change, or get a refund for tickets under this scheme.
- No Extra Concessions – You cannot use other discounts like coupons, passes, or railway staff concessions on top of this offer.
Why the Scheme? Railways’ Goals
- Demand Spread – During festivals, everyone wants to travel in the same short period, which causes crowding. This offer encourages people to plan their trips over a longer time, reducing rush.
- Better Utilization – It helps fill up trains in both directions so that return journeys are not half-empty while onward trips are overloaded.
- Public Awareness – Railway zones have been told to spread the word using announcements, posters, and media so more people can use the scheme.
How to Avail: Step-by-Step
- Wait for Start – Booking under this scheme begins on August 14, 2025.
- Book Onward – Begin by reserving your onward journey for any date from October 13 to October 26, 2025.
- Book Return – Next, book your return ticket for any date between November 17 and December 1, 2025.
- Match Details – Make sure the passenger names, class of travel, and booking method are exactly the same for both trips.
- Get Rebate – A 20% discount will be automatically applied to the base fare of your return ticket. Remember—no refunds or changes are allowed.
Important Questions
- On what date will booking open for the Indian Railways Round Trip Festival Package with 20% return fare rebate?
- Under the Indian Railways Round Trip Festival Package, what are the permitted travel dates for the onward journey?
- Under the Indian Railways Round Trip Festival Package, what are the permitted travel dates for the return journey?
- In the Indian Railways Round Trip Festival Package, which trains are not eligible for the 20% discount on the return fare?
- What passenger and ticket details must match for eligibility under the Indian Railways Round Trip Festival Package?
Conclusion
The Round Trip Festival Package is a smart move by Indian Railways to handle festival rush while giving passengers savings. By booking both onward and return tickets within the set dates and following the rules, travellers can get 20% off on the return fare, making festival journeys more affordable and better managed.
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