Lok Sabha Question No. 1042 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Alternative Train for Waitlisted Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, P.P. CHAUDHARY, RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1042 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## ALTERNATIVE TRAIN FOR WAITLISTED PASSENGERS

1042.  SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether waitlisted passengers are to be provided confirmed tickets in the next alternative train;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of passengers who will be impacted by this;
- (c) the details of trains in which this facility is to be provided;
- (d)  whether  the  facility  is  to  be  provided  for  both  online  and offline bookings, and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether passengers will face lower availability of tickets in alternate  trains  due  to  this  and  the  measures,  if  any,  to counteract this, 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. 1042 BY SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL  GHANDHI,  SHRI  P.P.  CHAUDHARY,    SHRI  RAMESH CHANDER  KAUSHIK  &  SHRI  NARANBHAI  KACHHADIYA  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.03.2016 REGARDING ALTERNATIVE TRAIN FOR WAITLISTED PASSENGERS.

(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 presently applicable only across Mail/Express & Superfast trains.
- (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.
- (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  up  gradation  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.
- (ix) During the period from 01.11.2015 to 18.02.2016, 5600 passengers had opted for this scheme.
- (d) At present, this scheme has been provided in case of tickets booked through internet only as in this case the mobile number is invariably captured, which is necessary to intimate the passenger regarding allotment of accommodation in alternate train. However, introduction of schemes on pilot basis and their expansion based on feedback is a continuous and ongoing process.
- (e): No, Madam. The passengers are being shifted against vacant accommodation in alternate train.

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