Tatkal tickets to cost less,booking period cut

She also said that Tatkal tickets will now be made available “destination-wise instead of from end to end”,thereby making these tickets cheaper.

A passenger traveling with a Tatkal ticket from Delhi to Patna on the Howrah-Rajdhani train had to pay the full fare from Delhi to Howrah besides Rs 15 to Rs 300 as Tatkal charges. The Railways often argued that if a passenger wanted a ticket to an intermediate station on a long-distance train,he would deprive an end-to-end passenger of a berth and would also rob the Railway of revenue. So,in order to make up for Railway’s revenue loss,the passenger was made to pay the end-to-end fare. After today’s announcement,the same Delhi to Patna passenger on the Howrah Rajdhani will have to pay the fare from Delhi to Patna only.

Besides,the Railways has also decided to reduce the Tatkal charges—which will now be levied as percentage of the fare—from Rs 300 to Rs 200 for AC 2 and AC 3 Tier coaches,from Rs 150 to Rs 100 for AC Chair Car and Sleeper and from Rs 15 to Rs 10 for Second Seating Class coaches.

The Railways,senior officials said,earned about Rs 625 crore every year from the Tatkal scheme and the reduction in the charges would not lead to revenue losses. “We do not expect a loss of revenue because of this (reduction in Tatkal charges) since the increase in volumes will make up for the shortfall. In fact,we expect earnings to go up,” a senior ministry official said. The Railways allocate 10 to 30 per cent seats under the Tatkal category. However,the average utilization of Tatkal quota is only about 12.5 per cent.