The highest existing fare on Howrah-Guwahati (Kamakhya Junction) route – in Saraighat Express – is Rs 1,410 (3AC), Rs 1,985 (2AC) and Rs 3,320 (1AC). (Express Photo by Bobins Abraham)
As the first Vande Bharat sleeper train is scheduled to be launched this week on Howrah-Guwahati (Kamakhya) route, the fare of the train has been finalized. Railways officials said that for 958-km route, the fare for third AC (3AC) will be Rs. 2299 for complete journey from Howrah to Guwahati. It will be Rs. 1334 from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri and Rs. 960 from Howrah to Malda town.
In second AC (2AC), the fare for Howrah to Kamakhya will be Rs. 2970, Rs. 1724 for Howrah to New Jalpaiguri and Rs. 1240 for Howrah to Malda Town. In First AC (1AC), the fare from Howrah to Kamakhya will be Rs. 3640, Rs. 2113 from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri, and Rs. 1520 for Howrah to Malda Town.
The official further said that the fare for Kamakhya to Malda Town will be Rs. 1522 (3AC), Rs. 1965 (2AC) and Rs. 2409 (3AC). Similarly, for Kamakhya to New Jalpaiguri, the fare will be Rs. 962 (3AC), Rs. 1243 (2AC) and Rs. 1524 (3AC). The passengers will also be charged 5 percent GST on tickets.
Earlier on January 9, Railway board issued a circular fixing the rate for the Vande Bharat sleeper trains. It also said that the minimum fare will be equivalent to what is charged for a 400-km distance.
According to the circular, the passengers will be charged at a flat rate of Rs 2.4 per km for 3AC, Rs 3.1 per km for 2AC and Rs 3.8 per km for first AC. Only the confirmed tickets will be issued for this train and it will not have provision of Reservation Against Cancellation or RAC tickets.
The first train is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Guwahati-Howrah route next week and is expected to reduce travel time by three hours vis-à-vis existing express train service. The first Vande Bharat sleeper train will cover 10 stops across seven districts of West Bengal – Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar – and Kamrup metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam.
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