As the Ganpati season approaches, passengers travelling from Mumbai to Konkan are witnessing an unexpected spike in train ticket prices, with fares reportedly surging by as much as 260 percent. This surge is largely attributed to a combination of heightened demand and a recent cap imposed on waitlisted (WL) train tickets by Indian Railways.
Dynamic or “flexi-fare” pricing, a model where ticket prices rise with increasing demand, has significantly impacted several air-conditioned classes in Konkan-bound trains. With the implementation of a flat 25 percent cap on WL tickets, introduced on June 16, capacity constraints have further driven up confirmed ticket fares on selected routes. Railway insiders revealed that trains departing from key Mumbai suburban terminals—including Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Panvel, Kalyan, and Vasai—are exhibiting exceptionally high demand in the days leading up to the festival. In response, confirmed ticket prices in First AC for some of these services have touched ₹5,000, a cost that officials acknowledge passengers are willing to pay.
The 25 percent cap on WL tickets—uniformly applied across all travel classes—was intended to manage overcrowding and discourage last-minute rushes at railway stations. However, railway officials now suggest that the policy may be contributing to unintended inefficiencies, particularly in higher-class coaches such as 1AC and 2AC. An official from Central Railway explained that limiting waitlist quotas restricts seat allocation flexibility. For example, if a First AC coach has just 12 berths, only three can now be waitlisted. In the event of a cancellation, vacant seats often go unfilled, leading to under-utilisation despite high ticket demand. Officials say that while the intent behind the WL cap is operational efficiency, its implementation in a uniform manner across all coach types might need reconsideration.
Sources within the Railway Board confirmed that a proposal to revise the cap has already been circulated. A communication dated June 28 outlines plans to revise WL ticket limits to up to 60 percent for air-conditioned coaches and 30 percent for non-AC classes. However, this policy shift is still under review and has not yet been officially implemented, railway officials clarified. The issue is further compounded by the simultaneous nationwide fare revision that takes effect from July 1. This is Indian Railways’ first long-distance fare hike in five years and affects passengers in sleeper, second-class, and AC categories. Sleeper and First-Class tickets will see a modest increase of 0.5 paise per kilometre, while AC fares—including chair car and premium classes—will rise by two paise per kilometre. While second-class passengers travelling under 500 km remain unaffected, the revision will impact most festival and intercity travellers.
Officials maintained that dynamic pricing is not applied to premium trains such as the Konkan Kanya Express, Netravati Express, or Matsyagandha Express. Instead, it primarily affects less popular services operating with lower average occupancy, particularly those with surplus AC coaches. However, even in these trains, ticket prices are no longer predictable. A senior official involved in ticketing strategy remarked that passengers are facing confirmed ticket rates that can range from 120 percent to 260 percent above the base fare. For many, especially those travelling for religious and cultural reasons during Ganpati, these fare escalations are seen as exploitative.
The growing concern around festival travel affordability is igniting conversations about equitable access to transport in India’s economic capital. With train travel being the lifeline for middle and lower-income groups in Mumbai and beyond, any pricing volatility risks amplifying socioeconomic disparities. Meanwhile, several experts in transportation policy argue that such fare hikes during peak festival seasons reflect a lack of long-term capacity planning. A transport economist based in Mumbai pointed out that while flexi-fares are market-driven, they shouldn’t override social obligations during mass movement events like Ganpati, Chhath, or Diwali. “The railways cannot simply become an airline in pricing model,” the expert noted. “There must be a regulated cap to balance cost recovery with accessibility.”
Adding to the complexity is the logistical challenge faced by travellers from semi-urban and rural parts of the Konkan region who rely heavily on these trains. Many are left with either WL tickets that don’t materialise into confirmed berths or are forced to purchase higher class tickets at exorbitant prices due to lack of alternatives. Railway authorities maintain that WL caps are necessary for operational management, particularly to avoid crowding at platforms and reduce stress on last-minute seat allocations. However, internally, the system appears to be under pressure. Data from recent bookings shows First AC and Second AC compartments operating at sub-optimal capacities even during high-demand periods, indicating the policy may need urgent course correction.
Officials also noted that booking patterns from smaller stations—often referred to as ‘roadside’ stations—are severely impacted by the 25 percent WL cap. Limited allocations for these locations, coupled with the cap, further reduce chances of confirmation, resulting in inefficient seat utilisation across the network. As discussions continue around increasing the WL cap to 30–60 percent based on coach class, railway experts suggest piloting revised limits on key routes like Mumbai–Konkan to evaluate the policy’s impact. If implemented, such flexibility could restore balance between demand management and seat occupancy.
For now, passengers planning travel around the Ganpati season are urged to book early, remain cautious of peak-day dynamic pricing, and monitor official announcements from Indian Railways regarding any revision in WL policies or fare structures. While pricing pressures remain a contentious issue, the underlying need for a modern, affordable, and equitable transport policy continues to gather momentum in a city where mobility is vital to economic and cultural life.
Also Read : Maharashtra Pushes Vertical Industry Policy to Boost Growth Amid Land Scarcity
