Details of major concessions granted to different categories of persons on Indian Railways

GENERAL RULES FOR CONCESSION 

 

   The detailed rules, procedures, entitlement, purposes, etc for grant of concession are contained under different serial numbers in IRCA Coaching Tariff, Part I (Vol. II) which can be purchased from the General Secretary, I.R.C.A., Chelmsford Road, New Delhi. For any complaints or clarifications, the General Manager or the Chief Commercial Superintendent of the concerned Zonal Railway Administration should be approached. The important general rules for concession, in reference to the above mentioned Tariff, are as under:

 

   1. (a) All concessional fares shall be calculated on the basis of fares for Mail/Express trains irrespective of the type of train, i.e. Mail or Express or Passenger, by which the passenger travels.

 

   (b) Concession shall not be granted for any journey the cost of which is borne by the Central or State Government or a local authority or a Statutory body or a Corporation or a Government Undertaking or a University. However, the students participating in the tournaments held or recognized by the schools or universities will be eligible to the concession.

Centre for Railway Information Systems Launches New Enhanced Interface for Train Enquiry.

   Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the IT wing of Indian Railways, has developed an enhanced new interface for the www.trainenquiry.comfor dissemination of information to public. National Train Enquiry System (NTES) developed by CRIS is the backend system which collects information about train running on near real time basis and disseminates information through various interfaces like nationwide unique number 139, Website (www.trainenquiry.com), face to face enquiry, mobile interfaces etc. The new interface is accessible through www.trainenquiry.com or www.enquiry.indianrail.gov.in.

   The new interface for the website was made public for past one week as field trial to get users’ feedback. The new interface, which offers quick and easy access to essential information for passengers, has been largely appreciated for its speed, simple interface and richness of information and smooth user experience. This new interface has been launched with effect from 6th September 2013.

Ticketing Through Non-Internet Based Mobile Phones.

   A pilot project of ticketing through non-internet based mobile phones has been launched by IRCTC on 1st July 2013.  The salient features of the scheme are as follows:-

·        There is no need of internet at any stage, viz. booking, payment, cancellation etc.

·        The user gets ticket details Short Messaging Service (SMS) instantly.

·        SMS along with Photo Identity Card in original can be used to travel, no printout of the ticket is required.
 
          The steps taken to popularize the booking of tickets through non-internet based mobile phones through SMS mode are as follows:

Railway Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Launches SMS Based Ticketing System.

Railway Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Launches SMS Based Ticketing System

This New System will Improve Customer Convenience and Empower the Common Man: Kharge

   The Minister of Railways Shri Mallikarjun Kharge launched SMS based ticketing system at a function here today. While addressing a gathering on the occasion, Shri Kharge said that this user-friendly service which will be effective from today i.e 28th June 2013, is being introduced in order to further improve the customer convenience and empower the common man who does not have access to internet and cannot afford to buy smart phones. He said that since the mobile penetration in India has increased rapidly and more than 80 per cent people have mobile phones, this new system will be helpful in enabling booking of tickets by masses themselves. Ticket booking through non-internet based mobile, introduced as a pilot project by Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, will also help Railways in overcoming the menace of touting whereby unsuspecting people are fleeced by such elements. This will particularly be useful for labourers and workers staying away from their home and who have to book tickets for travel to their native place, the Minister added.

   The Railway Minister further said that inconvenience in booking reserved railway tickets has been a cause of concern for all.  In order to facilitate easy access, Indian Railways have been making efforts by expanding the    passenger reservation system counters network.  The online booking through IRCTC has now grown up to about 45% of total reserved tickets.  This has eased the rush at counters to a great extent. While internet access in India is only about 10%, mobiles are now in easy reach and more than 80% people in our country use mobile phones, the Minister said.

Railways to Launch Ticket Booking through Non-Internet based Mobile Phones with Effect from 1st July 2013.

   With an aim to further facilitate the passengers, Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC),a public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, will be launching a pilot project of ticketing through non-internet based mobile phones with effect from 1st July 2013. This will enable people using non-internet based mobile phones to easily access Railway ticketing services through SMS/IVRS/USSD. The scheme is user-friendly, secure and also eco-friendly, as no print out is required.

   Indian Railways has continuously endeavored to improve the ease and access of ticketing. The e-ticketing initiative of Indian Railways has been one of the most passenger-friendly initiatives of Indian Railways. In order to further expand the reach of ticketing, the Minister of Railways had made a Budget announcement regarding launch of ticketing through mobile phones was announced in the Railway Budget. The objective was to tap the potential of mobile phone market in India and thereby facilitate the common man, by providing him any-where any-time and hassle free booking option.

Time limit for Advance Reservation by train reduced to 60 Days with effect from 01-05-2013.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2007/TG-I/20/P/ARP

New Delhi, dated 25.04.2013

The Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

(COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO.34 OF 2013)

Sub: Time limit for Advance Reservation.

   It has been decided that w.e.f. 01.05.2013, the existing time limit for advance reservations by trains will be reduced from 120 days to 60 days (excluding the date of journey) as mentioned below:-

   i. With effect from 01.05.2013, the ARP will be of 60 days (excluding the day of journey) and bookings will be done accordingly. However, all the bookings done upto 30.04.2013 under the ARP of 120 days will remain intact.

   ii. Cancellations of the booking made beyond the ARP of 60 days will, however, be permitted.

   iii. There will be no change in the case of certain day time express trains like Taj Express, Gomti Express, etc. where lower time limits for advance reservations are at present in force.

   iv. There will also be no change in the case of limit of 360 days for Foreign Tourists.

   2. Wide publicity through all possible means may be given for information of general public.

Sd/-
(Dr. S.K. Ahirwar)
Director Traffic Commercial (G)
Railway Board

Source: NFIR

Separate Reservation Counters for Women and Physically Challenged.

   Separate reservation counters are earmarked for ladies, senior citizens, former Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, physically handicapped, accredited journalists, freedom fighters, if the ticket demand per shift is not less than 120 tickets. In case, there is no justification for earmarking of exclusive counter for any of these categories of persons including ladies/physically challenged persons, one or two counters depending upon total demands are earmarked for dealing with the reservation requests of all these categories of persons.

    Instructions are also there that at those reservation offices which have not been computerized and where separate counters are not in existence for ladies, female passengers should not be compelled to join the general queues and be attended to separately at the same counter as for general passengers.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Facilities for Ladies, Handicaps and Senior Citizens in Trains.

Facilities for Ladies, Handicaps and Senior Citizens in Trains
          
            For the convenience of female passengers, handicapped persons & senior citizens, Railways have provided the following reservation related facilities in trains:-
 
(i)                In all trains having reserved accommodation, a combined quota of two lower berths per coach has been earmarked in Sleeper, AC-3 tier and AC-2 tier classes for following category of passengers when travelling alone:-
 
a)                 Senior Citizens;
b)                 Female passenger 45 years of age and above; and
c)                 Pregnant women
 
(ii)             A reservation quota of two sleeper class berths has been earmarked in all trains running on non-suburban sections for handicapped persons performing their journey on handicapped concessional ticket.  The person accompanying the handicapped person as escort is also allotted the berth out of this quota.

(iii)           Specially designed coaches known as SLRD coaches with wider entrance doors to allow a wheel chair to enter, wider aisles and modified toilet with 4 berths, the lower two for physically challenged persons and upper berths for attendants have been attached in almost all Mail/Express trains except Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi Express Trains and Duronto Express Trains.  These coaches are treated as unreserved except in case of Garib Rath Trains.

(iv)           In Sleeper Class, a reservation quota of 6 berths is earmarked in Mail/Express trains for ladies irrespective of age travelling alone or in a group of female passengers.  Ladies special trains are also run wherever required and feasible.

(v)              Rear passenger portion of guard brake van (SLR) is also earmarked for ladies in certain Mail/Express trains for ladies passengers going without reservation.

(vi)           Accommodation is also earmarked for ladies & handicapped persons in Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU)/Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU)/passenger trains.

(vii)         Accommodation is also earmarked for senior citizens during specified hours on suburban sections by Central & Western Railways.
 
   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.

Condition of Carrying Identity Card Extended to All Classes of Reserved Train Tickets Including Reserved Second Class and Sleeper Class.

The New Provision will Come into Effect from Tomorrow (1st December 2012)
 
  

   The Move Aims to Facilitate the Travel of Bonafide and Legitimate Passengers and to Reduce the Scope for Misuse of Reserved Ticketing System by Unscrupulous Elements/Middleman
 
   The List of Prescribed Proofs of Identity has been Expanded to Cover More Variety of Photo Identity Cards for the Convenience of the Passengers
 
 
            In a major initiative to further facilitate the travel of bonafide and legitimate passengers and to reduce the scope for misuse of reserved ticketing system by unscrupulous elements/middlemen, the Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the condition of carrying original proof of identity during  train travel on reserved tickets issued through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) for all reserved classes including ‘Reserved Second Class (2S)’, ‘Sleeper Class (SL)’, ‘III Economy Class (3E)’ and ‘First Class (FC)’.  This change in policy will come into effect from tomorrow i.e.  1st December 2012.

Online Reservation of Train Tickets.

   The change in the timings of Tatkal was made effective from 10.7.2012. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website recorded its highest booking of 4.95 lakh e-tickets in a single day on 13th July, 2012. The average internet ticket booking was around 3.74 lakh per day in the month of October 2012.

   In case of fully waitlisted tickets on which all the passengers are waitlisted, the names of all the passengers booked on that ticket are dropped from the reservation charts and refunds are credited to the respective bank accounts. Refunds of waitlisted e-tickets are processed by the system and the money is credited automatically into the account of the concerned. For expediting the processing of confirmed e-tickets, on which refunds are sought after chart preparation, the following measures have been taken:

ID Proofs Compulsory During Train Journey in All Reserved Classes from 1st December 2012.

   With effect from 01.12.2012, one of the passengers booked on a ticket for undertaking journey in any reserved class will have to produce any one of the prescribed proofs of identity failing which all the passengers will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.

   This provision shall, however, not affect the existing provision of Tatkal scheme where during the journey, the passenger is required to show the original proof of identity indicated on the ticket.

   The number of prescribed proofs of identity have been increased from nine to ten by adding following identity card to the list of prescribed proofs identity:-

Condition of Carrying Identity Card Extended to All Classes of Reserved Train Tickets including Reserved Second Class and Sleeper Class.

The New Provision will Come into effect from 1st December 2012
 
   The Move AIMS to Facilitate the Travel of Bonafide and Legitimate Passengers and to Reduce the Scope for Misuse of Reserved Ticketing System by Unscrupulous Elements/Middleman
 
  The List of Prescribed Proofs of Identity has been Expanded to Cover more Variety of Photo Identity Cards for the Convenience of the Passengers
 
 
            In a major initiative to further facilitate the travel of bonafide and legitimate passengers and to reduce the scope for misuse of reserved ticketing system by unscrupulous elements/middlemen, the Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the condition of carrying original proof of identity during travel on reserved tickets issued through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) for all reserved classes including ‘Reserved Second Class (2S)’, ‘Sleeper Class (SL)’, ‘III Economy Class (3E)’ and ‘First Class (FC)’.  This change in policy will come into effect from 1st December 2012.

            Further, the Ministry of Railways has also decided to expand the list of prescribed proofs of identity to include photo identity cards having serial numbers issued by public sector undertakings of State/Central Government, District Administrations, Municipal Administrations and Panchayat Administrations.

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:- 

Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) terminals provided in Post Offices.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. 2012/TG-I/20/P/NRH PRS

New Delhi, dated 16.10.2012

Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

(COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO.63 OF 2012)

Sub: Extension of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ministry of Railways and Department of Posts for issuing of reserved tickets through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) terminals provided in Post Offices.

   Please refer to this office letter of even number dated 08.08.2007 forwarding therewith a copy of MoU signed by Ministry of Railways with Department of Posts on 31.07.2007 for issuing of reserved tickets through computerized PRS terminals provided in the post office. This MoU was valid for a period of five years.

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.