Lok Sabha Question No. 636 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Alternative Train Accommodation Scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 636 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## ALTERNATIVE TRAIN ACCOMMODATION SCHEME

## 636.  DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched an alternative train accommodation scheme enabling waitlisted passengers of train to opt for confirmed berths in an alternative train plying on the same route;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether this scheme will be made available in all trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  passengers  opting  for  the  scheme  will  be  ensured confirmed berths; and
- (e) 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.  636  BY  DR.  J.  JAYAVARDHAN,  SHRI MOHITE PATIL, VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO, SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE AND SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.12.2015 REGARDING ALTERNATIVE TRAIN ACCOMMODATION SCHEME

(a) & (b):  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. (c): Refinement,  enlargement  in  scope,  etc.  of  schemes  introduced on pilot basis (like VIKALP) is a continuous, ongoing process based on assessment of their utility/efficacy, feedback from rail-users, etc. Provision of confirmed reservation to passengers opting for participation in VIKALP would be possible only if berths are vacant on

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(d) & (e): the alternate train.