PC: tv9marathi

Indian Railways has earned additional revenue of Rs 2800 crore in the last seven years by changing fare rules for children. This has come to light in the reply given by Railways' IT company 'CRIS' on an information request by an RTI activist. The revised child fare rules have generated revenue of Rs 560 crore in the financial year 2022-23 alone. This has made these years the most profitable years. 'CRIS company of Railways provides information technology technology in core services like passenger and freight transportation, and railway communication control.

On March 31, 2016, the Railway Ministry announced that the Railways would charge full ticket fares for children aged five to twelve years. If children of this age group require a separate berth seat, they will have to pay the full fare. This amended rule was implemented on 21 April 2016. Earlier, Railways was providing berths for children aged 5 to 12 years at half the fare. If children wanted to travel in the berths of their fellow adults rather than taking a separate berth, they were charged half the fare.

PC: Mint

What are the rules for children?

There is no need to make a reservation in a reserved coach for children aged 1 to 4 years in railway travel. Children below five years of age can travel on the train without a ticket. If children between 5 to 12 years do not want a separately reserved seat, they can travel with their parents or relatives by paying half the fare. But if children aged between 5 to 12 years want a separate berth, they will have to pay the full fare. If you fill in the details of a child between 1 to 4 years during the journey, then the child fare will have to be paid. Children aged 1 to 4 years travel free if no details are provided.

PC: Metro Rail News

Now entire berth is reserved for children.

CRIS has released the earning figures for the year 2016-17 to 2022-23 based on two-tier fare options for children. In these seven years, more than 3.6 crore children traveled at half fare without opting for a reserved seat or berth. At the same time, more than 10 crore children opted for a separate berth or seat and paid the full fare. According to RTI activist Chandrashekhar Gaur, 70 percent of the total children traveling by train have opted to reserve berths or seats by paying the full fare.