Lok Sabha Question No. 2673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: On demand tickets to passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2673 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## ON DEMAND TICKETS TO PASSENGERS

2673. DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government had proposed to provide on demand rail tickets to passengers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  getting  a  confirmed  rail  ticket  on  many  routes  is  still difficult as reflected in number of waitlisted tickets;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  of  waitlisted  tickets  alongwith  the  amount during the last three years;
- (d) whether a large number of tickets are cancelled due to various reasons including long advance booking period of 120 days and if so,  the  details  of  tickets  cancelled  along  with  the  cancellation charge collected during the last three years;
- (e) whether there is an urgent need for reforms in ticketing system of  Railways  like  reducing  the  advance  booking  from  120  to  90 days, gradual release(monthly) of tickets, faster refund, capacity augmentation, etc.; and
- (f) if  so,  the other steps being taken by the Government to provide on demand rail tickets to passengers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2673 BY DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY AND SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.08.2021 REGARDING ON DEMAND TICKETS TO PASSENGERS (a)&(b): On Indian Railways, demand pattern of reserved accommodation is  not  uniform  throughout  the  year  and  it  varies  over  lean  and  peak periods. Moreover trains running on popular and convenient timings with lesser stoppage and running time are generally well patronized and also experience  waiting  list  almost  throughout  the  year.  However  other trains not having one or all these features are chosen by passengers for travel only as a second alternative and may not be fully patronized. With  a  view  to  provide  convenient  accommodation  to  passengers waiting  list  of  the  trains  is    monitored  on  regular  basis  and  based  on demand  pattern  and  operational  feasibility,  load  of  existing  trains  is augmented on temporary or  permanent basis, new trains are introduced or special trains are run.

To provide confirmed reserved accommodation to those passengers who have  to  travel  at  short  notice,  Tatkal  Reservation  Scheme  has  been introduced in which reservation opens at 10.00 hours and 11.00 hours on the  previous  day  of  journey  from  the  train  originating  station  for  air conditioned and non air conditioned classes respectively.

(c) The details of number of waiting lists tickets issued, at the time of preparation of first reservation chart, and the total fare value of those

-2tickets during the last three years are as under.

| Financial Year   | No. of Waiting List Tickets   | Fare value of Waiting List Tickets (in ₹ )   |
|------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19          | 3,20,02,635                   | 28,89,84,47,399                              |
| 2019-20          | 2,93,47,229                   | 26,92,33,53,570                              |
| 2020-21          | 75,11,005                     | 6,77,30,64,145                               |

Note: The fare value of tickets excludes concession and voucher amount.

(d)&(e): To cater to the requirements of different segments of passengers,  Indian  Railways  have  fixed  different  Advance  Reservation Period (ARP) for different types of trains. In most of the long distance trains and Shatabdi Express trains, reserved tickets can be booked up to 120 days in advance whereas in case of short distance trains, shorter ARP has been prescribed. Further, special trains on special fare can also be run with shorter ARP.   To meet the requirement of those passengers who  have  to  travel  at  short  notice,  Tatkal  reservation  scheme  is available in which booking is available at an ARP of approximately one day. On Indian Railways Advance Reservation Period for ticket booking is reviewed based on feedback from rail users.

Those  passengers  who  can  plan  their  journey  in  advance  book  under general reservation scheme whereas those who have to travel at short notice book tickets under Tatkal Reservation Scheme.

The passengers who have booked the ticket have option to cancel it for any reason including cancellation of programs, change in schedule etc. and take refund as per provisions of Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015. The details of

number of tickets cancelled and cancellation charges collected during the last three years are as under.

| Financial Year   | No. of tickets cancelled   | Cancellation charges collected (in ₹ )   |
|------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19          | 8,37,47,306                | 15,18,62,15,427                          |
| 2019-20          | 9,41,57,175                | 17,21,41,29,130                          |
| 2020-21          | 5,63,81,674                | 7,71,10,15,507                           |

- (f) Introduction of new trains, running of special trains/augmentation of  load  of  existing  trains  and  provision  of  other  facilities  to  the  rail passengers  based  on  demand  pattern  and  operational  feasibility  is  a continuous and ongoing exercise.

*****