Amended Tatkal Scheme to come into effect from 21st November 2011

The Tatkal scheme for reservation o­n Railways has been modified and the same will come into effect from Monday i.e 21st November 2011. The following modifications have been made in the Tatkal scheme:

I.The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of Tatkal scheme is reduced from two days at present to one day excluding the day of journey from the train originating station. For example, if train is to depart from the originating station o­n the 2nd of a month, the Tatkal quota for that particular train shall open at 0800 hours o­n the 1st of the month.

II.No refund will be granted o­n cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in circumstances stipulated at present such as cancellation/ diversion of Trains etc.,.

III.In case of cancellation of partially confirmed Tatkal ticket, refund for o­nly waiting list Tatkal ticket will be given.

IV.No duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued except in exceptional circumstances o­n payment of full fare including Tatkal charges. No refund will be given for duplicate Tatkal tickets even if original ticket is found.

V.Tatkal tickets shall be issued o­nly o­n production of o­ne of the eight prescribed proofs of identity i.e Voter ID card, PAN card, Passport, Credit cards issued by banks withlaminated photograph, Nationalised Bank pass book with photograph, Student Identity card with photograph issued by recognised Schools / Colleges to students, Driving License, Photo Identity issued by State / Central Govt. as per procedure explained below:­
 i.A self attested photo copy of the proof of identity of anyone passenger shall be attached to the requisition slip.
 ii.The details of the identity proof shall be captured by the system and indicated o­n the reserved tickets as well o­n the reservation chart.
 iii.It will not be mandatory for the passenger(s) to go to the counter to book the Tatkal ticket, however, the proof will have to be sent in the aforementioned manner.
iv.During the journey, the passenger, whose identity card number has been indicated o­n the ticket, will have to produce original proof of identity indicated o­n the ticket, failing which all the passengers booked o­n the ticket shall be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly. Indication will come o­n the ticket regarding carrying same original proof of identity during the journey, as indicated o­n the Ticket.
v.If the passenger whose identity card number is indicated o­n the ticket is not travelling, all other passengers booked o­n that ticket, if found travelling in train, will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.
vi.Agents / RTSAsarerestricted from booking Tatkal tickets at the counters between 0800 hours and 1000 hours. This restriction shall be enforced through frequent inspection at the counters. The agents /both web service agents and web agents are also restricted from booking Tatkal tickets o­n the internet between 0800 hours and 1000 hrs.
vii.For internet booking of Tatkal tickets, the passenger shall enter the identity proof type and number, which is to be used for travel. These details shall be printed o­n the ERS/indicated o­n the MRMNRM as well as in the reservation chart.
viii.The web services agents of IRCTC will be permitted to book o­nly o­ne Tatkal ticket per train per day o­n the internet.
ix.The maximum number of passengers per o­ne Tatkal ticket (PNR) is o­nly Four (4). The feature of capturing the number of proof of identity for all the four passengers has been provided. Those passengers who want to indicate the number of proof of identity for more than o­ne passenger will have this option but will be required to produce copy(ies) of prescribed proof(s) of identity for additional passenger(s) also. The numbers of such identity card(s) will also be captured by the system and will be reflected in the reservation charts.
x.In case of partial cancellation, if the passenger, whose identity card number has been indicated, is getting cancelled in a PNR, the number of proof of identity of at least o­ne of the remaining passengers needs to be provided mandatorily. However, in case of tickets booked through internet, initially, details of proof of identity of o­ne of the passengers has been provided and subsequently provision for capturing data of all the four passengers will be made.
xi.In case the number of proof of identity of more than o­ne passenger has been indicated, during the journey, even if anyone passenger produces the original identity card indicated o­n the ticket as well as reservation chart, all the passengers can undertake the journey.

New Tatkal Rules

The Tatkal scheme for reservation has been reviewed and it has been decided to make following changes in the scheme:-

(i)The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of Tatkal scheme should be reduced from two days at present to one day excluding the day of journey from the train originating station. For example, if train is to depart from the originating station on the second of the month, the Tatkal quota for that particular train shall open at 0800 hours on the first of the month.

(ii)No refund will be granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of circumstances mentioned in Refund para below.

(iii)No duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued. Duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges.

(iv) The facility of change of name is not permitted on the bookings made under Tatkal scheme.

Identity Proofs :

In view of complaints received in recent past regarding alleged irregularities in Tatkal scheme, the matter has been reviewed and it has been decided to re-introduce the need for carrying anyone of the following eight

Identity proofs in original during the course of journey and also at the time of booking :

I.        Voter Photo Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India

II.      Passport

III.    PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department

IV.    Driving Licence issued by RTO

V.      Photo Identity Card issued by Central/State Government

VI.    Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School/College for their students

VII.  Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph

VIII.Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph

(v)Tatkal tickets shall be issued only on production of one of the eight prescribed proofs of identity (Given above) as per procedure explained below:-

a. For this purpose, a self attested photo copy of the proof of identity of anyone passenger shall be attached to the requisition slip.

b. The details of the identity proof shall be captured by the system and indicated on the reserved tickets as well on the reservation chart.

c. It will not be mandatory for the passenger(s) to go to the counter to book the Tatkal ticket, however, the proof will have to be sent in the aforementioned manner.

d. During the journey, the passenger, whose identity card number has been indicated on the ticket, will have to produce original proof of identity indicated on the ticket, failing which all the passengers booked on the ticket shall be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly. Indication will come on the ticket regarding carrying the same original proof of identity during the journey, as indicated on the ticket.

e. If the passenger whose identity card number is indicated on the ticket is not travelling, all other passengers booked on that ticket, if found travelling in train, will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.

f. CRIS may explore the feasibility of storing the number of proof of identity in case of more than one passenger, whose indication can be made on the ticket as well on the reservation chart. If such provision imade anyone of the passengers whose proof of identity have been indicated can produce the original proof as indicated on the ticket as well as reservation chart. In such cases, in case of non-travelling of the one of the passengers whose proof of identity has been indicated, other passenger(s) will be able to undertake the journey on production of original proof of identity by the other passenger(s) whose proof of identity has been indicated on the ticket as well on the reservation chart.

(v)Agents / RTSAs shall be restricted from the booking Tatkal tickets at the counters between 0800 hours and 1000 hours. This restriction shall be enforced through frequent inspection at the counters. The agents both web service agents and web agents shall also be restricted from booking Tatkal tickets on the internet between 0800 hours and 1000 hours.

(vi)Even for internet booking for Tatkal tickets, the passenger shall enter the identity proof type and number, which is to be used for travel. These details shall be printed on the ERS/indicated on the MRMNRM as well as in the reservation chart.

(vii)It will be possible to book a maximum of only four passengers per PNR for Tatkal tickets.

(viii)The web services agents of IRCTC will be permitted to book only one Tatkal ticket per train per day on the internet.

(ix)CRIS & IRCTC will make necessary changes in the software latest by 21.11.2011 and will advise the date of effect to all Zonal Railways

REFUNDS   -   

A flat refund of 25% of total fare charged on the ticket, excluding tatkal charge is granted on cancellation of tatkal ticket, which is presented for cancellation upto 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train. However, full refund of fare and tatkal charges will be granted on the tickets booked under Tatkal scheme in the following circumstances :-

If the train is delayed by more than 3 hours at the journey originating point of the passenger & not the boarding point if the passenger's journey originating point and boarding point are different.

If the train is to run on a diverted route and passenger is not willing to travel.

If the train is to run on diverted route and boarding station or the destination or both the stations are not on the diverted route.

In case of non attachment of coach in which Tatkal accommodation has been earmarked and the passenger has not been provided  accommodation in the same class.

If the party has been accommodated in lower class and does not want to travel. In case the party travels in lower class, the passenger will be given refund of difference of fare and also the difference of Tatkal charges, if any.

For the purpose of granting refunds & issuing TDRs for W/L, the time limit will be the same as applicable for refund of normal tickets.

FARE -

• The Tatkal Charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10% of basic fare for second class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given in the table below:-

Class of Travel	Minimum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)	Maximum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)
Second (sitting)	10.00	15.00
Sleeper	75.00	150.00
AC Chair Car	75.00	150.00
AC 3 Tier	200.00	300.00
AC 2 Tier	200.00	300.00
Executive	200.00	300.00

• The above charges will be levied uniformly both in peak period & non-peak periods.
• Tatkal tickets will be issued for actual distance of travel, instead of end-to-end, subject to the distance restriction applicable to the train. The same Tatkal berth/seat may be booked in multiple legs till preparation of charts. At the time of preparation of charts, unutilized portion may be released to the General RAC/Waiting list passengers.
• No concession of any type including senior citizen for tatkal ticket.
• No concession of any type including senior citizen for Tatkal ticket in Garib Rath Trains.

Fresh Measures to Prevent Misuse of Tatkal Travel Scheme

The Minister of Railways Shri Dinesh Trivedi at a press conference here today said that several measures are proposed to be implemented in the next one week or so with a view to prevent misuse of Tatkal scheme by agents/unscrupulous elements by the activities during opening hours of the reservation counters:. These measures announced by him are as follows:-

i. The advance reservation period of Tatkal scheme should be reduced from two days at present to one day excluding the day of journey from the train originating station. For example, if train is to depart from the originating station on the second of the month, the Tatkal quota for that particular train shall open at 0800 hours on the first of the month.

ii. There shall be no refund on confirmed Tatkal tickets subject to the exceptions such as cancellation of trains, late running of trains, etc. This is proposed on account of the following reasons :-


· Advance reservation period of Tatkal is very short i.e. approximately one day. It is expected that the passenger would have a firm programme of travel before booking the Tatkal ticket.

· To prevent misuse of Tatkal ticket by unscrupulous elements by resorting to speculative booking.


iii. No duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued. Duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges.

iv. Tatkal tickets shall be sold only on production of one of the eight prescribed Identity cards as proof of identity. For this purpose, a self attested photo copy of the identity card on which the passenger(s) proposes to travel shall be attached to the requisition slip. The details of the identity proof shall be captured by the system and indicated on the reserved tickets as well on the chart. It will not be mandatory for the passengers to go to the counter to book the Tatkal ticket, however, the proof will have to be sent in the aforementioned manner. During the journey, the passenger will have to produce original proof of identity indicated on the ticket. In future, when AADHAAR is operational, the issue of Tatkal tickets will be linked to AADHAAR.


v. Agents / RTSAs shall be restricted from the booking Tatkal tickets at the counters between 0800 hrs. and 1000 hrs. This restriction shall be enforced through frequent inspection at the counters. The agents both web service agents and web agents shall also be restricted from booking Tatkal tickets on the internet between 0800 hrs. and 1000 hrs.

vi. Even for internet booking for Tatkal tickets, the passenger shall enter the identity proof type and number, which is to be used for travel. These details shall be printed on the ERS as well as the chart for Tatkal tickets.


vii. There shall be only four passengers per PNR for Tatkal tickets.

viii. The web services agents of IRCTC will be permitted to book only one Tatkal ticket per train per day on the internet.


ix. Cameras will be installed at the ticket counters for maintaining stricter surveillance.

Amendment in Tatkal scheme - Identity Proof

In the original Tatkal scheme introduced in 1997, there was a provision that the passengers booking ticket under this scheme would indicate their Identity Card number at the. time of booking and the passengers would be required to carry the same Identity Card during the journey failing which they were considered as travelling without ticket and excess charged accordingly. This provision was subsequently withdrawn in August 2004 which is in vogue till date and in this revised scheme, there was no condition of production of Identity Card either at the time of booking or during the journey.

 2. In view of complaints t:eceived in recent past regarding alleged irregularities in Tatkal scheme, the matter has been reviewed and it has been decided to re-introduce the need for carrying anyone of the following eight Identity proofs in original during the course of journey:

Voter Photo Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India
Passport
PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department
Driving Licence issued by RTO .
Photo Identity Card issued by Central/State Government.
Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized
School/College for their students
Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph and
Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph

2.1 No Identity proof is required to be produced at the counter while getting the Tatkal ticket booked.

2.2 Anyone of the passenger/passengers will be required to produce one of the Identity proofs in original (as listed in para 2.0) for checking by ticket checking staff during the course of journey, failing which, all the passenger/passengers travelling on the said ticket will be treated as travelling without ticket and will be charged excess fare and penalty as per rules.

3. This provision will be given effect from 11.02.2011.