Lok Sabha Question No. 60 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Tatkal Reservation System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.60 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## TATKAL RESERVATION SYSTEM

- †*60.  SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  problems  being faced  by  passengers  in  getting  tatkal  reservation  despite  making several improvements to check the misuse of the system;
- (b)  if so,  the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  cases  of  touts/agents  providing  tatkal  tickets  at  huge premium have come to the notice of the Railways and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure smooth functioning of the Tatkal Reservation System and its misuse?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO.60 BY SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE AND SHRI  ARVIND  SAWANT  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 02.12.2015 REGARDING TATKAL RESERVATION SYSTEM. (a) & (b): Some instances of inconvenience caused to the passengers while booking tatkal tickets do come to the notice of this office.  The problems faced by passengers are generally in the nature of accommodation  getting  exhausted  within  few  minutes  of  opening  of reservation,  transaction  failure  while  booking  or  while  making  the payment, difficulty in log in, forced log out etc. (c) Some instances of unscrupulous elements involved in malpractices in  selling  of  reserved  tickets,  including  Tatkal  tickets  do  come  to notice. Action against the culprits is taken as per provisions of Section 143  of  Railway  Act,  1989.  During  the  Financial  year  2014-15,  1648 persons  were  apprehended/prosecuted  under  Section  143  of  Railway Act, 1989. (d).  There  are  inbuilt  features  in  Tatkal  scheme  to  avoid  its  misuse which  include  provision  of  not  granting  refund  on  cancellation  of confirmed Tatkal ticket except in case of certain special circumstances indicated in the scheme, not allowing any modification of  Tatkal  ticket,  not  allowing  authorised  ticketing  agents  to  book during first thirty minutes of opening of reservation, allowing only one Tatkal ticket per day per train to authorised ticketing agents, allowing only  one  booking  in  one  user  login  session  between  0800  hours  and 1200  hours  except  for  return/onward  journey,  allowing  individuals  to book only two Tatkal tickets per user id/ per IP address between 1000 hours and 1200 hours, etc. With a view to streamline Tatkal scheme and  to  avoid  its  misuse  by  unscrupulous  elements,  some  additional measures that have been introduced recently 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 to 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.
6. *****