Tatkal ticket prices under dynamic pricing scheme zoom

As many as 25 of the 80 tatkal seats in the Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani are being allotted through dynamic pricing.

As many as 25 of the 80 tatkal seats in Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani are being allotted through dynamic pricing. (Source: Express photo)

The last minute rush of passengers from Mumbai to Delhi and back for a Diwali break has seen the prices of tatkal railway tickets under the dynamic pricing scheme increase manifold, with the 2nd AC journey costing a maximum of Rs 7,815 and a third AC costing Rs 6,500. The maximum fare is more than double of the basic ticket fare, which stands at Rs 3,200 for second AC and Rs 2,390 for third AC in Rajdhani Express. Dynamic pricing was introduced for tatkal tickets as “premium tatkal” on October 1 this year.

While the demand this week has seen prices spiral upwards, in other weeks, premium tatkal tickets cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 for second AC and between Rs 3,600 and Rs 4,000 for third AC.

Around eight to nine per cent of the seats in a train are allotted through tatkal and half of these are now being sold under dynamic pricing, which allows passengers to buy a ticket online even a day prior to the date of their journey.

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As many as 25 of the 80 tatkal seats in the Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani are being allotted through dynamic pricing.

“Dynamic pricing gives passengers a chance to get a confirmed ticket without paying any extra amount to touts. Even a day prior to the journey, a passenger can get a premium tatkal ticket and that too at one-third the price offered by airlines during festive seasons,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer (CPRO), WR.

Seats allotted through premium tatkal, if unsold, are made available to wait-listed passengers.

“Unlike premium trains, where the revenue generated is 70-80 per cent more than the ordinary train, in case of premium tatkal, the revenue is not much as there are limited seats. However, it gives passengers a chance to book a ticket in any train,” said a senior railway officer.

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The concept of dynamic pricing in special holiday trains was initiated first time on Indian Railways between the Delhi-Mumbai sector owing to the popularity of the route and the travel time. It was introduced last year by Western Railway during the new year break. Following the success of the scheme, the Indian Railways introduced dynamic pricing for tatkal tickets this year.

priyal.dave@expressindia.com

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