Annual suburban railway pass from April 1

The Ministry of Railway has announced its decision to introduce a yearly and half yearly suburban season passes and tickets which would come into effect from the April 1, 2013. According to the circular issued by the ministry the price of half yearly tickets (HST) would be 5.4 time the price of the monthly season while the yearly season ticket (YST) would cost 10.8 times the cost of the monthly season ticket. According to this calculation passengers would end saving 10% on their HST and YST. (Half yearly and yearly season ticket).This would be extremely beneficial for travelers who frequently travel through suburban trains as they stand to benefit more from the same.

Apart from providing utility and saving to travelers this move also stands to benefit Indian Railways as well. At present the railways earn upto to 70 percent on monthly passes. For example the Western Railway alone sells close 40,000 season passes a day.  The decision by the railways comes just a week after the rail minister announced the increase in train fares from January 21, 2013. This decision on implementation of passes would also be announced in the Annual Railway Budget 2013- 14.

The Annual budget has been projected to be low on popular reforms and the main focus of the ministry so far has been concentrating on income generation. Hence measure for the same has been implemented. Meanwhile the Indian Railways also has also stated that it would aim at completing the promises made by ministry issued its vision statement for 2020. Named as the Indian Railways Vision 2020 one of the main priorities of the same has been to see that a commuter gets a ticket within five minutes of reaching the station. For those residing in a metropolis this never happens and most often individuals are frustrated with the system. YST and HST should hopefully solve this issue an official said.