Ministry of Railways Decides to Introduce Tatkal Scheme in Passenger Trains.

   The Tatkal scheme was initially introduced in 1997 with a view to provide reservation to those passengers who have to undertake journey at short notice and to save such passengers from the clutches of unscrupulous elements/touts. At present, this scheme is available in almost all Mail/Express trains and in all reserved classes except First Class and First AC Class.

   Ministry of Railways has now decided to introduce Tatkal scheme in reserved classes of passenger trains also. The Tatkal scheme in the passenger trains will be available in the reserved classes (2nd AC, 3rd AC, 3rd AC Economy, Chair Class, Sleeper Class and 2nd reserved sitting). For this purpose, Zonal Railways will identify the passenger trains and earmark Tatkal accommodation in that train/class in which average utilization during the previous financial year has been more than 60%.

Revision of Tatkal Charges for Train Journeys to be Effective From 1st April 2013 Onwards.

   As per announcement made in the Railway Budget 2013-14, it has been decided by the Ministry of Railways to revise Tatkal charges.  These charges will be applicable for journey starting from 01.04.2013 onwards. Now, the Tatkal charges will be realized @ 10% of basic far for reserved Second (2S) class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given below:-

Class to Travel	Minimum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)	Maximum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)
Reserved Second Sitting (2S)	10	15
Sleeper	90	175
AC Chair Car	100	200
AC-3 tier	250	350
AC-2 tier	300	400
Executive	300	400

Railways Conduct Checks to Prevent Misuse of Tatkal Tickets.

   Railways Conduct Checks to Prevent Misuse of Tatkal Tickets

   Under Tatkal Scheme, tickets are sold only to genuine passengers on production of self attested photocopy of one of the prescribed proofs of identity. While booking Tatkal tickets through internet, the details of the specific proof of identity have to be indicated. The passenger has to carry the same in original during travel.

   Further, Tatkal scheme has been rationalized and a number of modifications have been made with a view to avoid misuse of Tatkal scheme, which include no refund on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets, non-issue of duplicate Tatkal ticket under normal circumstances, change of timings of opening of booking of Tatkal tickets, etc.

   To check the cornering of seats by touts in connivance with railway staff, preventive checks are conducted in and around reservation offices. Checks are also conducted in trains against travelling on transferred ticket. Surveillance/Monitoring of the working of reservation offices is also undertaken by installing CCTVs to prevent possible activities of touts.

   Railway staff, if found indulging in malpractices in connivance with touts, are taken up under the Disciplinary and Appeal Rules. During the financial year 2012-13 (upto January 2013), 2115 touts have been apprehended/prosecuted.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

SALIENT FEATURES OF EXISTING TATKAL SCHEME

SALIENT FEATURES OF EXISTING TATKAL SCHEME
   a. Tatkal booking opens at 10 AM on the previous day of journey excluding date of journey from the train originating station.

   b. The reservation under this scheme is available only upto the time of preparation of charts. 

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

   d. No duplicate Tatkal tickets are issued except in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges. 

   e. The reservation under this scheme can be sought by full fare paying passengers only and no passenger holding concessional ticket is allowed to avail reservation under this scheme. 

   f. Tatkal tickets are issued only on production of one of the nine prescribed proofs of identity as mentioned below and passenger should carry the same proof of identity(in original) during the journey failing which all the passengers booked on that ticket are considered as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly:- 

Steps Taken to Prevent Misuse of Tatkal Tickets.

   With a view to reduce the scope for misuse, Tatkal tickets are issued on production of self attested photocopy of one of the prescribed proof of identity and the same in original is required to be carried during the journey, to verify the bonafide of passengers. However, during peak rush periods when the demand outstrips the availability, some cases of black marketing of reserved tickets by touts come to notice at the time of surprise inspections and preventive checks conducted at reservation offices.

   During the period from April 2012 to June 2012, a large number of checks were conducted during which 930 unauthorized agents/touts were apprehended/prosecuted.

   During the current financial year (upto June 2012), Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has permanently deactivated 14 subagents for involvement in irregularities. Moreover, with a view to keep a check on the activities of agents booking Tatkal tickets, following additional steps have been taken:

Amendment in Tatkal Scheme.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (Bharat Sarkar)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (Rail Mantralya)
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2012/TG-I/20/P/Tatkal
                                                                                                                          New Delhi dated 04.07.2012.

Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

(Corrigendum to COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO.43 OF 2012)

Sub:- Amendment in Tatkal Scheme.

   Please refer to this office letter of even number dated 29.06.2012 (Commercial Circular No.43 of 2012) on the subject quoted above. Clarifications have been sought by Zonal Railways regarding booking of general tickets as mentioned in para 2 of these instructions.

Railways Takes Steps to Combat Misuse of Tatkal Tickets.

   Muniyappa Convenes a Review Meeting of Senior Railway Officials to Further Streamline Tatkal Scheme

   The Minister of State for Railways, Shri K. H. Muniyappa said that with the recent steep hike in the fares of the airlines, the demand and supply gap for Railway tickets have substantially increased which Railways is trying its best to reduce through various measures. Shri Muniyappa said this during his meeting of senior officers of Railways Board here today to review the progress of the steps taken to combat some cases of black marketing and purchase of railway tickets by touts. Member Traffic, Railway Board, Managing Director, IRCTC, Additional Member (Commercial) and other senior officers of Railway Board were present at the meeting.

   Shri Muniyappa said that that the Indian Railways have been regularly monitoring the activities of the agents, touts and other individuals carrying out such activities and strict action has been initiated. The Minister said that every day on an average of around 15 lakh Railway tickets are being sold through 8838 passenger reservation ticket counters and the e-ticketing website through IRCTC, out of which the Tatkal tickets constitutes around 1.70 lakh.

   Shri Muniyappa said that the Railways had introduced the Tatkal scheme to facilitate the bonafide passengers to travel by train at short notice. However, there are some reports of this facility being misused by some persons for pecuniary and personal gains, thereby defeating the very purpose of the scheme.