Lok Sabha Question No. 649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Waitlisted Passengers in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT, RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE, ARJUN RAM  MEGHWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 649 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.11.2015

## WAITLISTED PASSENGERS IN RAILWAYS

†649. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT: SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE: SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the scheme, namely Vikalp, launched by the Railways;
- (b)    whether  the  scheme  will  be  available  only  for  trains  running  on two routes;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the time by which the scheme would be extended to all the trains particularly those where there is huge demand of berths; and
- (e) whether with a view to finding a solution for waitlisted passengers,  the  Government  proposes  to  add  extra  coaches  on  the busy  routes  like  Delhi-Mumbai,  Delhi-Lucknow  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(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. 649 BY  SHRIMATI  RANJANBEN  BHATT, SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE AND SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.12.2015  REGARDING  WAITLISTED PASSENGERS IN RAILWAYS

(a) to (c):  With a view to provide confirmed  accommodation  to waitlisted passengers and, also, ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation, the Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme known as 'VIKALP' has been introduced as a pilot project on Delhi  -  Jammu  and  Delhi  -  Lucknow  sectors,  initially  for  tickets booked through internet only.  Salient features of this scheme are as under:-

- (i) The scheme is applicable only across Mail/Express & Superfast trains presently.
- (ii) Participation in this scheme is optional, i.e. only opting passengers who  remain fully Waitlisted after charting are considered for allotment of berth(s) in the alternate train.
- (iii) The  scheme  is  applicable  to  all  opting  wait  list  passengers, irrespective of booking quota and concession.
- (iv) Neither  is  any  extra  charge  taken  from  passenger  nor  is  any difference  of  fare  refunded  to  them  in  case  a  passenger  is shifted from a superfast train to mail/express train or vice versa.
- (v) If  all  passengers  of  a  PNR  cannot  be  provided  accommodation under VIKALP, none are considered for transfer to the alternate train  in  same  class.  Passenger(s)  are  considered for  confirmed accommodation  on  an  alternate  train  leaving  from  any  station

amongst the cluster of stations defined by Railways to a station serving the destination station on the same analogy.

- (vi) Passengers once provided accommodation in alternate train are just  as  eligible  for  upgradation  as  are  passengers  originally booked on the 'alternate' train. (vii) If  a  'VIKALP'  opting  passenger decides to cancel his/her ticket after  he/she  has  been  provided  a  confirmed  reservation  in  an alternate train, he/she will be treated as a confirmed passenger and extant cancellation rules would be applicable. (viii) Once a 'VIKALP' passenger has been allotted alternate accommodation, no modification in journey schedule is permissible. Refinement,  enlargement  in  scope,  etc.  of  schemes  introduced

on pilot basis (like VIKALP) is a continuous, ongoing process based on (e):  To meet the demand of traffic on busy routes, additional coaches are  attached/special  trains  are  run/frequency  of  existing  trains  is increased/new trains are introduced subject to operational feasibility.

- (d): assessment of their utility/efficacy, feedback from rail-users, etc.

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