Tatkal quota seats which is currently 10% of total seats would be revised, to as much as 25% of total seats.

Tatkal quota  seats which is currently 10% of total seats would be revised, to as much as 25% of total seats. 

Tatkal quota may be hiked by 25%, refund rules to change from Nov

BHOPAL: You may not get any refund if you get a confirmed ticket cancelled just four hours before scheduled departure of the train. Also, those who have to make to make bookings at the last moment may have a greater chance of getting a confirmed ticket as quota for tatkal seats may increase. 

These changes are on the cards as they were discussed on the final day of all India railways CCM's conference that concluded here on Wednesday. 

Railway Board additional member (commercial) SC Jethi spoke to TOI on sidelines of the conference and informed about other passenger related initiatives being undertaken by railways. 

"Refund rules would be changed from November 15 whereby you will not get any refund on cancelling a confirmed ticket after 4 hours before scheduled departure of train. Window for cancellation of waitlisted or RAC tickets would be of 30 minutes before the departure of the train. This is being done to plug spurious refunds and check touts," he said. 

Besides, quota of tatkal seats which is currently 10% of total seats would be revised, whereby it may be increased up to as much as 25% of total seats. 

"We have got suggestions from different quarters. While the exact quota for tatkal seats is yet to be determined, there is in-principle agreement that it would be increased," said Jethi adding that revision of tatkal provisions would be done from November 1. 

He also said that soon dynamic pricing would be introduced for Suvidha trains whereby fares would be progressively introduced for every 20% of seats and could be 3 times the base fare for 80-100% of seats. He also indicated that in case feedback was favourable, it could be introduced in other trains as well. 

Another new initiative that would be commissioned from November would be Vikallp or alternative train accommodation system (ATAS) whereby passengers booking waitlisted tickets would be given the option of choosing list of alternative trains and they would be migrated to any one of the chosen options if they do not get a confirmed ticket. This would be applicable in same type of trains (mail, superfast etc) and between same origin and destination stations pair. 

"This is being introduced between New Delhi-Lucknow and New Delhi-Jammu routes on pilot basis from November. Also, all zonal CCMs have been asked to identify which trains with high waitlists can be chosen for this scheme and what are their Vikalps (alternative trains)," said the Railway Board additional member. 

Railways is also mulling to extend monthly season tickets (MSTs) though UTS app in select sections besides Mumbai suburban where there is high concentration of daily passengers. "Stretches like Bhopal-Itarsi see huge number of passengers who buy MSTs. However, geo-fencing has to be done before such facility can be introduced in UTS."

Source :Times Of India.