Indian Railways has revised its advance reservation period to 60 days, commencing November 1, 2024, as opposed to the earlier 120-day timeframe. This initiative seeks to mitigate the prevalence of cancellations and ticket scalping, thereby fostering a culture of spontaneous travel and enhancing the efficiency of the booking process. All reservations made prior to October 31, 2024, continue to hold their validity.
Indian Railways has announced significant modifications to its ticket booking procedures, effective today, November 1, 2024. The ARP for train reservations has been decreased from 120 to 60 days. This change attempts to improve the booking experience and manage seat availability.
Advantages of the New IRCTC Rule:
Shorter booking periods are anticipated to result in better ticket availability closer to the day of travel, which will help people who frequently make last-minute reservations. By restricting speculative bookings, the Railways wants to increase the number of tickets sold to actual travelers, lowering cancellations and no-shows. With more precise ticket booking data, Indian Railways can better plan additional special trains and services.
Reasons for Change:
This new rule from IRCTC has been implemented for specific reasons. Although the government has not disclosed any particular rationale, there is some speculation surrounding it.
Approximately 21% of reservations made for journeys scheduled 61 to 120 days in advance were found to be canceled. This high cancellation rate indicates a significant number of passengers are booking tickets without definite travel plans. About 4-5% of passengers booked tickets but did not cancel or show up for their journeys, leading to seat wastage.
The new rules are expected to reduce the risks of fraudulent activities like ticket blocking due to a longer booking window.
Exceptions and Additional Information:
It’s important to note that these changes primarily affect sleeper and air-conditioned class tickets. General-class tickets, which are typically purchased closer to travel dates, remain unaffected by the new ARP.
The Indian Railways’ new rules also include the provision that passengers can only book tickets for up to six individuals on a single form, provided they are traveling to the same destination on the same train.
Additionally, the tatkal scheme will still allow for short-notice bookings, catering to those who need to travel within a day or two.
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the implementation of AI in Indian Railways has recently made headlines. AI-enabled cameras are being utilized to monitor train occupancy and assess food quality in the pantry.
Important Note:
A. A fine will be imposed on passenger cargo that exceeds the permissible limit.
On Wednesday, The Western Railway announced that passengers will be subject to a penalty if their cargo exceeds the permitted limit for their respective travel class. Additionally, the company encouraged individuals to refrain from overcrowding stations. The WR stated in a release on Tuesday that each passenger is allowed to bring a specific quantity of luggage without incurring any fees. However, items such as scooters and bicycles, as well as consignments that exceed the dimensions of 100 cm x 100 cm x 70 cm, are not eligible for the free allowance. The release states that “Western Railway strongly encourages all passengers to adhere to the established luggage limits, enter premises only as necessary, and avoid overcrowding at stations, in accordance with train schedules.”
B. Essential Aspects of the New Policy:
1. Purpose of Change: The Ministry indicated that this revision seeks to encourage legitimate passengers and more accurately represent actual demand, highlighting that approximately 21% of reservations made 61 to 120 days in advance were cancelled, and 5% of passengers failed to appear. Additionally, the Railways has reinstated the 60-day advance ticket booking period effective immediately.
2. Exceptions for Certain Trains: Daytime express trains, including the Taj Express and Gomti Express, will maintain the prior, reduced time limits for advance reservations.
3: Foreign tourist: The advance reservation period of 365 days for foreign tourists will remain constant.
4. Existing Bookings: Tickets purchased under the previous 120-day ARP prior to October 31, 2024, will remain valid. Passengers may cancel reservations made beyond the newly established 60-day Advance Reservation Policy.
5. Addressing no-shows: The new policy seeks to mitigate the problem of passengers failing to appear without canceling their tickets, a situation that may facilitate impersonation and fraud.
6. Historical Context: The Ministry noted that from 1995 to 1998, the advance reservation period was limited to 30 days.
