RAILWAY SAMACHAR

Tatkal Scheme

• Tatkal booking opens at 8 AM on Two days in advance actual date of journey excluding date of journey w.e.f. of 01-08-2009*, e.g. for train leaving on 6^th, Tatkal Booking will Commence at 8 AM on 4^th.

• No identity proof is required to be produced by the passenger seeking reservation under tatkal scheme neither at the time of booking nor during the journey.

• Powers for earmarking of Tatkal accommodation in different classes have been delegated to Zonal Railways who take a decision in this regard keeping in view the utilization pattern in that class during the previous financial year as well as availability of accommodation. The accommodation so earmarked, however, in no case exceed the maximum Tatkal accommodation permissible to be earmarked as per extant instructions, which is as under:-

  Classes	Maximum no. of berths which can be earmarked in Tatkal Scheme
  2 AC	10 Berths Per Coach
  3 AC	16 Berths Per Coach
  AC Chair Car	16 Seats Per Coach
  SL	30% of the accommodation
  Reserved Second Sitting (2S)	10% of the accommodation

• In those trains and classes where average utilization of Tatkal accommodation during six months period i,e April to September is 80% and above, tatkal charges applicable during peak period will be charged through out the year i.e for both peak and non peak period.

• There will be no separate Tatkal train defined. The unutilised Tatkal quota will get released to waitlisted passengers.

• Existing tatkal charges are as under:-

Classes	Existing (in Rs.)
	Non-Peak period (February 1 to March 31 & August 1 to August 31)	Peak period (April 1 to July 31 & September 1 to January 31)
2 AC	200	300
3 AC	200	300
AC Chair Car	75	150
SL	75	150
2S	15	15
Garib Rath 3 AC (GR)	200	300
AC chair car	75	150

• The facility of change of name is not permitted on the bookings made under Tatkal scheme.

• The reservation under Tatkal scheme shall be available only upto the time of preparation of charts.

• For the purpose of granting refunds & issuing TDRs for W/L, the time limit will be the same as applicable for refund of normal tickets.

• The booking in Tatkal scheme will be done only from originating to terminating point of the train with boarding facility from intermediate station. However, Zonal railways have been given the discretion of imposing restrictions on Tatkal booking regarding defining trains as end-to-end or keeping it free or imposing distance restrictions etc. Keeping in view the over all utilization of the accommodation available in the train.

• REFUNDS - A flat refund of 25% of total fare charged on the ticket, excluding tatkal charge is granted on cancellation of tatkal ticket, which is presented for cancellation upto 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train. However, full refund of fare and tatkal charges will be granted on the tickets booked under Tatkal scheme in the following circumstances :-

• If the train is delayed by more than 3 hours at the journey originating point of the passenger & not the boarding point if the passenger's journey originating point and boarding point are different.

• If the train is to run on a diverted route and passenger is not willing to travel.

• If the train is to run on diverted route and boarding station or the destination or both the stations are not on the diverted route.

• In case of non attachment of coach in which Tatkal accommodation has been earmarked and the passenger has not been provided accommodation in the same class.

• If the party has been accommodated in lower class and does not want to travel. In case the party travels in lower class, the passenger will be given refund of difference of fare and also the difference of Tatkal charges, if any.

RAILWAY BOARD's Letter No. 2009/TG-I/20/P/Tatkal, dated 17.07.2009

(Commercial Circular No. 27 of 2009)

Sub: Time limit for Advance Reservation Period under Tatkal Schema.

It has been decided to reduce the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) under Tatkal Schema from 05(five) days to 02 (two) days (excluding the date of journey) w.e.f. 01.08.2009. For this purpose the following course of action will have to be adopted:-

Reservation under Tatkal schema as per earlier ARP of five days shall continue till 26.7.2009.

For journey commencing w.e.f. 01-8-2009, the ARP shall be two days by reducing ARP gradually w.e.f. 27.7.2009 as per details given below:-

Date	ARP	Reservation available for journey commencing up
26.7.2009	5 days	31.7.2009
27.7.2009	4 days	31.7.2009
28.7.2009	3 days	31.7.2009
29.7.2009	2 days	31.7.2009
30.7.2009	2 days	01.8.2009
31.7.2009	2 days	02.8.2009
01.8.2009	2 days	03.8.2009