Title - Tatkal booking in passenger trains: Zonal Railways asked to notify date of implementation

NEW DELHI, OCT 1:   The Railway Ministry has asked the Zonal Railways to define the trains where the Tatkal scheme for passenger trains will be implemented as well as notify the dates for such scheme, raising fears that such implementation will create confusion.

The Railway Ministry had last week said that it will widen the Tatkal scheme, where people pay more money to do last minute reservations, by bringing in passenger trains in the ambit of Tatkal reservation segment.

At present, Tatkal scheme is available in almost all Mail/Express trains and in all reserved classes except First Class and First AC Class. Now, the Ministry of Railways has now decided to introduce Tatkal scheme in reserved classes of passenger trains also, according to a release.

The Tatkal scheme in passenger trains will be available in reserved classes: 2nd AC, 3rd AC, 3rd AC Economy, Chair Class, Sleeper Class and 2nd reserved sitting.

Tatkal charges in passenger trains will be Rs 10 for reserved second sitting, Rs 90 for sleeper, Rs 100 for air-conditioned (AC) Chair Car, Rs 250 for 3 AC and Rs 300 for 2AC.

For this purpose, Zonal Railways will identify the passenger trains and earmark the Tatkal accommodation in that train/class in which the average utilisation during the previous financial year has been more than 60 per cent, added the release.