Lok Sabha Question No. 1244 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Issue of Confirm Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1244 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## ISSUE OF CONFIRM TICKETS

1244.  SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Railways  has  started  new  ticket confirmation process through website;
- (b)  if  so,  the  confirmation  and  cancellation  chances probability of last two years trend thereof;
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  issue  confirm  tickets  to passengers whenever and wherever the person needs and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  issue  confirm  tickets  to the patients travelling for treatment purpose for all the trains; and
- (e) if so, details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1244 BY SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  25.07.2018  REGARDING ISSUE OF CONFIRM TICKETS

(a):  A  tool  has  been  developed  to  predict  the  probability  of waitlisted ticket getting confirmed at the time of booking as well as  during  Passenger  Name  Record  (PNR)  enquiry  of  waitlisted ticket. The tool has been developed using the algorithm of Machine learning.    The  machine  learning  model  has  been  developed  using the  waitlisted  PNR  data  of  past  2  years.    This  model  creates  the pattern for the various waitlist scenarios and predicts the probability  for  the  future  date  journey.    Currently  this  feature  is integrated  with  Indian  Railway  Catering  &  Tourism  Corporation (IRCTC) website only. In IRCTC website this feature is operational w.e.f. 13 June, 2018 as under:-

- i) When the user is doing the booking transaction, and if the status of accommodation availability of the inputted journey  is  waitlisted,  then  the  user  can  check  the probability of confirmation.
2. ii) At the time of PNR enquiry of waitlisted ticket, the user can check the probability of confirmation.

(b):  As  far  as  trends  of  confirmation  chances  and  cancellation chances  probability  is  concerned,  it  is  informed  that  it  varies depending  upon  peak  and  lean  periods,  type  of  trains  like  short distance  trains,  long  journey  trains,  trains  with  limited  stoppage, etc.

(c):  In  the  computerised  Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS), confirmed berths/seats are allotted on first come first served basis till the availability and thereafter Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC)/Waiting  List  tickets  are  issued.  The  status  of  RAC/Waiting List tickets get automatically updated against the cancellation of confirmed  berths/seats  and  also  against  release  of  unutilised reservation quotas.

To facilitate those passengers who have to undertake journey at short notice and to save such passengers from the clutches of unscrupulous  elements/touts,  Tatkal  scheme  of  reservation is available where the accommodation becomes available for booking on the previous day of journey from train originating station.

Further, with a view to providing confirmed accommodation to waiting list passengers and to ensure optimal utilisation of available  accommodation,  a  scheme  known  as  Alternate  Train Accommodation  (ATAS)  known  as  'VIKALP'  was  introduced  as  a pilot project in November, 2015.  This scheme has been expanded to  cover  all  type  of  train  on  all  sectors  from  01.04.2017.  For  this facility, waiting list passenger has to give an option at the time of booking of ticket & passengers with waiting list status at the time of preparation of first reservation charts are shifted to other trains, subject to availability of vacant accommodation.

(d)  &  (e):  In  the  computerized PRS there is already a provision to permit cancer patients and their attendants travelling on concessional tickets issued in exchange of concession certificate, to directly access Emergency Quota at the time of booking itself. Maximum number of berths/seats out of the Emergency Quota in a train,  which  can  be accessed  by  Cancer  patients  and their attendants in Sleeper, is 4 and 2 each in AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier and First Classes. In addition, separate Cancer Patient Quota has also been defined in some identified trains. Moreover, instructions  are  also  there  that  in  case  requests  are  received  for confirmation of berths out of emergency quota from patients who have to undertake journey for checkup like cancer treatment and dangerous ailments which cannot be postponed due to compelling circumstances, the same should be considered by quota controlling authority as per extant norms so as to accommodate to the extent feasible after satisfying themselves of the genuineness of travel. *******