Effective 25 December 2015, Tatkal ticket charges will be hiked by Indian Railways by up to 33%. Railways made to move aiming to improve passenger review collections for Tatkal Scheme, which is an Indian Railways scheme for journey at very short notices.

The Tatkal charges are the premium paid by a user above the fare. The hike of minimum Tatkal charges from Rs 250 to 300 is levied for AC-III tier, Rs 350 to 400 is the maximum hike. Coming to hike in AC-II tier tatkal charges, it is Rs 300 to 400 and the maximum charge is from Rs 400 to Rs 500.  Railways increased the minimum Tatkal charges in the sleeper class from Rs 90 to 100, while maximum from Rs 175 to 200. The second-class (general) charges were not increased.

Railway officials were quoted by Dnaindia as agreeing that, "Every train has a fairly big chunk of tickets kept aside for Tatkal which means revenues of the railways will increase, and it will also pinch the pockets of the passengers." The CRIS will modify the software in lines with the new fares, according to Indian Railways.

This indicates that train travel in AC and Sleeper class coaches are getting costlier from Christmas 2015 and pinch the pockets of the passengers. The announcement came from Railways after the Parliament session ended.

- Sumana