New Scheme to Ease Festival Travel Rush

In an innovative move to manage the expected surge in travel during the Diwali and Chhath festivals, Indian Railways has launched the "Round Trip Package". This experimental scheme offers a 20% rebate on the fare of return journeys for passengers who book both onward and return tickets together.

The initiative is designed to spread out passenger traffic over a longer period, enhance train utilization, and provide convenience to families planning extended vacations.

Booking Details and Conditions

Bookings under this scheme will open on August 14, 2025, for onward journeys scheduled between October 13 and October 26, 2025. The return journey must be booked for travel between November 17 and December 1, utilizing the connecting journey feature. Notably, the usual 60-day advance reservation period does not apply to return journeys booked under this package.

Eligibility and Restrictions

To avail of the rebate, passengers must adhere to several conditions, including traveling with the same set of passengers in both directions, ensuring both tickets are confirmed, and selecting the same class and origin-destination pair for both journeys. The rebate applies only to the base fare and excludes other charges. Additionally, the scheme covers all train classes except Flexi Fare trains, and no refunds or modifications are permitted once tickets are booked.