Railways allows passengers to book their tickets from counters using VIKALP scheme

New Delhi, June 1: Railways has revised its reservation form to allow passengers booking tickets from counters to use the alternate train accommodation scheme VIKALP. Currently, the scheme is available only on online bookings.

 

To provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal utilization of available accommodation, Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme-VIKALP was introduced in 2015. Under the scheme, waitlisted passengers of a train could opt for confirmed accommodation in alternate trains.

In the revised reservation form, passengers are given an option either to avail the option of VIKALP scheme or not to avail it. If the option of Vikalp is availed by passengers, they would have to mark choice of alternate train departing within 48 hours.

Opting for VIKALP does not mean that confirmed berth will be provided to passengers in an alternate train. It is subject to the availability of train and berth.

In the revised reservation form, passengers are given an option either to avail the option of VIKALP scheme or not to avail it, where they may give their preference by ticking the column Yes or No. If the option of VIKALP is availed by passengers, he/she would have to mark his/her choice of alternate train departing within 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. Also, a passenger is given an optional choice to mention their Aadhaar number in the reservation form.

Now, the benefit of Vikalp option has also been made available through PRS counters and not just online bookings.