Lok Sabha Question No. 581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-19
Subject: Corruption in Tatkal Reservation
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.581 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2017

## CORRUPTION IN TATKAL RESERVATION

581.  SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether problems are persisting in getting Tatkal reservation in spite of improvements and safeguards to a large extent and there is much scope for its misuse and deceitful use by agents/touts and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  it  becomes  difficult  for  genuine  passengers  to  use booking website due to seeking reservation through website by a large number of persons at ten o'clock in the morning which is the prescribed  time  for  opening  of  Tatkal  reservation  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that touts/agents provide Tatkal  tickets at a premium rate than the fixed one; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.581 BY SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  19.07.2017 REGARDING CORRUPTION IN TATKAL RESERVATION. (a)  to  (d)  :  On  Indian  Railways  reserved  accommodation  including Tatkal  accommodation  can  be  booked    through  computerised Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS)  on  first  come  first  served basis.  During peak rush periods/days when demand outstrips  the availability,  reserved  accommodation  especially  in  higher  classes and  on  popular  routes  gets  exhausted  within  short  duration  of opening  of  reservation.    However,      during  lean  periods,  on  nonpopular  and  lower  classes,  the  accommodation  remains  available for  longer  duration.    The  phenomenon  is  more  relevant  for  Tatkal where limited accommodation is earmarked. This happens as the available limited accommodation is accessed simultaneously through more than 10,000 counters at 3400 computerised Passenger Reservation Centers as well as through internet. In  addition,  some  instances  of  inconvenience  caused  to  the passengers while booking tatkal tickets also come to notice due to transaction  failure  while  booking  or  while  making  the  payment through  internet.  Transactions  failures  generally  occur  due  to network  problem  on  the  users  part  or  on  account  of  payment gateway. As far as server of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation(IRCTC)  is  concerned,  it  has  the  capacity  of  15000 bookings per minute which is sufficient to handle the present load. Some instances of unscrupulous elements involved in malpractices in  selling  of  reserved  tickets  including  tatkal  tickets  are  also reported  and  action  is  initiated  whenever  such  cases  come  to notice in Indian Railways.

To  avoid  misuse  of  Tatkal  Scheme  there  are  some  inbuilt features in Tatkal scheme which includes provision of not granting refund on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of  certain  special  circumstances  indicated  in  the  scheme,  not allowing  any  modification  of  Tatkal  ticket,  etc.  Some  additional steps  have  also  been  taken  to  facilitate  the  passengers  and  to avoid the misuse, some of which are:-

- i. Staggering of the timings of reservation under Tatkal scheme.
- ii. Captcha  implementation  in  Registration,  Login  and  Booking page to check fraudulent booking through automation software.
- iii. Imposition of minimum  time  limit before proceeding for payment  gateway  as  well  as  after  making  payment  while booking tickets through internet.
- iv. Making  OTP(one  time password) compulsory  for all net Banking Payment options.
- v. Installation  of  five  new  Itanium  servers  to  enhance  the ticketing capacity.
- vi. Disabling authorised agents to book Tatkal tickets during first half an hour of opening of reservation.

To keep a check on the activities of touts, preventive as well as  regular  checks  are  conducted  jointly/individually  by  Vigilance, Security and Commercial Departments, and the action against the culprits  is  taken  as  per  provisions of  Section  143  of  Railway  Act, 1989.

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