Indian Railways is giving passengers a special offer to plan their festive travel early this year. Under its new Round Trip Package, travelers can enjoy a Discount of 20 percent railway ticket offer on the base fare of their return journey. The scheme is aimed at easing the festive season rush for Diwali and Ch, ensuring smoother travel and better capacity utilization. Bookings for onward journeys open in mid-August, making it the perfect time to lock in your holiday travel plans.
What’s Behind This Festive Season Discount?
The Round Trip Package is a fresh initiative from Indian Railways, launched on a pilot basis for the upcoming festive season. Passengers booking both onward and return tickets together will receive a 20% rebate on the base fare of the return ticket.
This move is designed to:
- Reduce booking congestion during high-demand festival weeks.
- Help passengers save on travel costs.
- Maintain balanced occupancy in trains in both directions.
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Key Dates You Can’t Miss
- Booking Opens: August 14, 2025 (for onward journeys)
- Onward Travel Window: October 13 – October 26, 2025
- Return Travel Window: November 17 – December 1, 2025
A major advantage of this scheme is that return tickets can be booked even outside the usual Advance Reservation Period, provided you use the “connecting journey” feature. News source India Today
Who Gets the 20 Percent Railway Ticket Offer?
To qualify for this offer, passengers must meet specific conditions:
- Onward and return tickets must be for the same passengers, same class, and same origin–destination pair.
- Both tickets must be confirmed at the time of booking.
- Booking must be made through the same mode — either online via IRCTC or at a railway reservation counter.
No waitlisted or RAC tickets will qualify for the 20 percent railway ticket offer.
Rules and Restrictions You Should Know
- Tickets booked under this scheme cannot be refunded, cancelled, or modified.
- No other discounts, concessions, or passes can be used for the return ticket.
- The rebate applies only to the base fare — additional charges like GST, reservation fees, and superfast surcharges are excluded.
Why This Deal Matters for Festival Travelers
Festival travel in India can be stressful — trains often fill up weeks in advance, and last-minute fares can be high. This scheme aims to change that by encouraging passengers to book both legs of their journey early.
With the 20 percent railway ticket offer, travelers benefit from:
- Guaranteed confirmed seats for both onward and return journeys.
- Significant savings on travel expenses.
- Reduced competition for last-minute tickets.
For Indian Railways, this also means improved efficiency, as trains will carry more balanced passenger loads in both directions during the busy festive season.
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Final Word — Book Early, Travel Happy!
If you’re traveling home for Diwali or Chhath, the 20 percent railway ticket offer is a golden chance to save money and secure your seat. Remember to follow the eligibility rules and book as soon as reservations open. Early planning means a smoother, more affordable, and stress-free festive journey.