Railway Minister Announces 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.
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