Tatkal in Passenger trains also

Tatkal booking in passenger trains too

PTI

 

Passengers completely cover a crowded commuter train in Bihar. (file photo)

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New Delhi, Sept 27:  

The Railways has decided to introduce the Tatkal scheme for booking of tickets in passenger trains.

Till now, Tatkal is available for mail and express trains including premier services like Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi.

It has been decided to allow Tatkal booking in passenger trains so that travellers can use the facility in emergency, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

The official said there are certain passenger trains which have sleeper classes and passengers can avail the scheme in those trains. The scheme will also be applicable for second class (sitting) in passenger trains.

The cash-strapped Railways is exploring various options to earn additional revenue to tide over the financial crisis.

Currently the cross-subsidy for passenger sector from freight is about Rs 26,000 crore in a year.

Besides passenger trains, the Railways is mulling to introduce Tatkal scheme in AC first class also.

Tatkal scheme is applicable in AC second, AC third, sleeper, AC executive and AC chair-car berths.

However, the Railways has made it clear that the scheme will be made applicable to only those passenger trains which had more than 60 per cent occupancy in the last financial year.

It has been left to Zonal railways to identify the passenger trains for the Tatkal scheme, the official said.

Tatkal charges have been fixed at 10 per cent of the basic fare for second class and 30 per cent of the basic fare for other classes.

For second class (sitting), the Tatkal rate ranges between Rs 10 and Rs 15.

(This article was published on September 27, 2013)