An Indian Railways ticket costing a staggering ₹10,100 has set the internet abuzz, leaving many stunned and questioning the pricing practices of the national transporter. The exorbitantly priced ticket was for a premium tatkal seat on the SMVB Howrah Express, traveling between Bengaluru and Kolkata on August 9. The ticket, shared by a Reddit user, quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism and sparking debates online.
The Reddit user posted a screenshot of the ticket and expressed bewilderment at the price hike, noting that a regular ticket on the same route typically costs around ₹2,900. “Honestly, I don’t understand who’d be willing to pay 10k+ for a 2A ticket in an ordinary superfast train between two well-connected metro cities when a regular 2A ticket is priced at 2.9k,” the user wrote, echoing the sentiments of many others who were equally shocked.
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The controversy centers around the Indian Railways’ premium tatkal scheme, which employs dynamic pricing. Unlike standard tatkal tickets, where prices are fixed, premium tatkal fares increase based on demand. This has led to instances like the one highlighted on Reddit, where the cost of a ticket skyrockets, leading to public outcry.
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The dynamic pricing model has been met with widespread criticism, particularly from those who feel it unfairly targets passengers during peak travel times. “That’s premium tatkal for you. Honestly, I feel it is useless, either put these seats under tatkal or general quota. Such high tatkal charges and dynamic charges don’t make sense,” one Reddit user commented, also noting that the numerous quotas often result in a limited number of seats being available for general booking.
Others pointed out the absurdity of the situation, suggesting that it would be cheaper to travel without a ticket and pay the fine than to book such an expensive fare. “One might as well travel without a ticket in 2nd AC and pay the fine—it would be less than that 10k,” another user quipped.
The debate also touched on the comparison between rail and air travel, with many questioning why anyone would choose to pay such a high price for a train ticket when flights are available for less. “There are folks who cannot fly due to medical reasons. There are also folks who cannot drive as well. I know this because I am related to a few of them. They are being squeezed due to these new policies,” a commenter explained, highlighting the limited options available to certain travelers.
As the discussion around this premium tatkal ticket continues to gain traction, it raises important questions about the fairness and transparency of dynamic pricing in public transportation. Many are calling for a review of the policy, urging Indian Railways to consider the impact on passengers who rely on affordable train travel.
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