Tatkal Booking Scheme Features - Latest Updates

(i) One of the passengers booked on the ticket has to show the prescribed proof of identity (in original) during journey failing which all the passengers booked on that ticket are treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.

ii. No refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal ticket. 

iii. The facility of change of name is not permitted on the booking made under Tatkal Scheme.

iv. The timings of opening of booking under Tatkal scheme on the opening day of reservation have been staggered to 1000 hours & 1100 hours on the previous day of journey from train originating station for AC and non-AC classes respectively.

v. Authorised ticketing agents have been restricted from booking Tatkal tickets during the first thirty minutes of opening of Tatkal booking i.e. from 1000 hours to 1030 hours and from 1100 hours to 1130 hours. 

vi. Web service agents have been permitted to book only one Tatkal ticket per train per day.

vii. Maximum four passengers per PNR for Tatkal Tickets. Individuals are allowed only 2 Tatkal tickets per IP Address from 1000 hours to 1200 hours permissible and maximum number of tickets allowed to an individual user is 6 per month.

viii. Automatic log out after completion of one transaction.

Whenever any instance of misuse of Tatkal scheme was brought to the notice, the root cause for such misuse was examined and remedial steps were taken by modifying the provisions of the scheme to plug the loopholes. Centralized statistics, State/Union territory wise regarding instances of such misuse is not maintained. However, since 2014 till date, instructions regarding modification in Tatkal scheme have been issued on six occasions. 

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Reduction In Tatkal Quota in Indian Railway 

Although Zonal Railways can earmark a maximum of 30% of available accommodation as Tatkal, yet Tatkal quota like all other reservation quotas is reviewed on a periodical basis so as to earmark it based on realistic demand pattern, by reducing it if required. In 2015-16, approximately 18.20% of the total accommodation has been earmarked as Tatkal quota (including Premium Tatkal). Moreover, adequate safeguards have been built in the scheme and various steps have been taken to avoid misuse of the Tatkal scheme, some of which are as under: 

i.No refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal ticket. 

ii.The facility of change of name is not permitted on the booking made under Tatkal Scheme. 

iii.The timings of opening of booking under Tatkal scheme on the opening day of reservation have been staggered to 1000 hours and 1100 hours on the previous day of journey from train originating station for AC and non-AC classes respectively. 

iv.Authorised ticketing agents have been restricted from booking Tatkal tickets during the first thirty minutes of opening of Tatkal booking i.e. from 1000 hours to 1030 hours and from 1100 hours to 1130 hours. 

v.Web service agents have been permitted to book only one Tatkal ticket per train per day. 

vi.Maximum four passengers per PNR are permitted for Tatkal Tickets. Individuals are allowed only 2 Tatkal tickets per IP Address from 1000 hours to 1200 hours and maximum number of tickets allowed to an individual user is limited to 6 per month. 

vii.CCTVs are installed at important PRS locations to monitor the activity of touts. Regular inspections/drives are conducted to unearth activity of malpractice. 

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 22.07.2016 (Friday). 

Source:PIBNEWS

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.