New Delhi, April 5: Want rail tickets instantly? Go for Tatkal booking! Enabling passengers to book train tickets at last moment through Tatkal ticket booking, the facility comes handy to those who have to travel in trains on a short notice. Allowing passengers to book tickets, railways gave in booking tatkal tickets through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) on first come, first served basis. To prevent anyone to misusing the system, the Railway Ministry lists out the steps it has taken.
Amidst rising complaints about misuse of the railway's Tatkal scheme of booking tickets, a revised scheme with additional measures to check the lacunae will come into effect from today under which passengers can book Tatkal tickets from 10 am instead of 8 am, the day before the journey from the originating station.
The revised scheme comes in the backdrop of increased number of complaints from train passengers about the misuse of the scheme and involvement of touts in cornering bulk of tickets to sell them at a premium. No authorised agents, including agents of IRCTC and others, will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets from 10 am to 12 am from counters as well as from Internet. There will be separate queues and counters for Tatkal buyers.
"No normal ticket will be issued during this time unless there is no passenger for the Tatkal tickets," an Eastern Railway release said.
Measures such as installation of CCTVs in major booking centres, barring booking clerks to carry mobile phones inside counters, display of helpline numbers for complaints, raids by the vigilance squads to prevent misuse of Tatkal facility have been taken. Earlier, advance reservation period of Tatkal scheme was reduced from two days, excluding the day of journey, to one day.
An IT-Anti Fraud Squad has been created. A complaint cell has also been set up. One can email or call these numbers: agentcomplaint@irctc.co.in (011-23745962) or care@irctc.co.in (011-39340000).
Refunds are not granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of special circumstances like late running of train by more than three hours and cancellation of trains. Railways have also initiated steps to augment e-ticket handling capacity of its website through short-term and long-term measures.