Lok Sabha Question No. 332 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Premium Tatkal Ticket Booking
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

PREMIUM TATKAL TICKET BOOKING

*332. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced Premium Tatkal Ticket Booking for trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is twice as costly as Tatkal booking;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the number/percentage of seats reserved in Tatkal and Premium Tatkal bookings?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

) SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO.  332  BY  SHRIMATI  P.K.  SREEMATHI  TEACHER  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.08.2017  REGARDING  PREMIUM TATKAL TICKET BOOKING (a): With effect from 01.10.2014, in some of the selected trains which are high in demand, 50% of the existing accommodation under Tatkal Quota has been earmarked as Premium Tatkal Quota and is being booked on variable  pricing.  This  is  a  distance-slab  based  fare  scheme  where  the fare increases by 20% after each slab of 10% berths subject to maximum three times of tatkal fare. Other applicable supplementary charges like reservation charge, superfast charge, Goods and Service Tax if applicable  etc.,  are  levied  separately.  The  berths/seats  left  over  under the Premium Tatkal quota are allotted first to the waitlisted passengers under the tatkal quota and thereafter to the passengers waitlisted under general quota. (b) & (c): In view of variable fare structure, the fare under premium tatkal quota may or may not be twice as costly as Tatkal booking. It may vary between  one  to  three  times  of  Tatkal  fare  depending  on  the  slab  in which the ticket is purchased.

In  view  of  recurring  loss  in  the  passenger  business,  Premium Tatkal  Quota  has  been  introduced  to  provide  rail-users  the  facility  of travelling at short notice by paying higher fares and generate additional revenues for Railways. These services are providing win-win situation for both  passengers  who  plan  their  journey  at  last  moment  as  well  as Railways.  By  these  special  arrangements  where  on  one  side  Railways will be  able  to recover  their  operational  cost,  on  the  other  side Passengers are getting facility of confirmed reservation at short notice by paying higher fares.

However,  General  accommodation  of  trains  have  not  been  utilized  for earmarking of Premium Tatkal Quota.  Premium tatkal quota is over and above the normal accommodation of regular train services and has been earmarked only in the limited number of trains.

(d):  As  per  policy,  if  the  average  utilization  of  the  train/class  during previous  year  is  more  than  60%,  in  that  case  Tatkal  Quota  can  be earmarked in that train subject to maximum 30% of the total classwise accommodation.

With effect from 01.10.2014, in some of the selected trains identified by  Zonal  Railways  which  are  high  in  demand,  50%  of  the  existing accommodation  under  Tatkal  Quota  has  been  earmarked  as  Premium

Tatkal Quota.

*****