Waitlisted train passengers on selected routes will now have an option to get confirmed accommodation in an alternative train on the same route. Here are five things you should know about this recently launched Vikalp scheme.
The next time you book a train ticket, you need not worry about the scary wait-list that might hamper your travel plans. Indian Railways has launched a new scheme that enables wait-listed passengers to get a confirmed seat in an alternate train if it is scheduled to run on the same day and has available seats.
The scheme is called Vikalp, and it has been kick-started with the view of accommodating wait-listed passengers into another train on the same route. The pilot project was started on November 1, for trains running on the Delhi-Lucknow and Delhi-Jammu routes.
Here are 5 key points you should know about this latest scheme –
1. For the first six months, this scheme will be applicable only for those passengers who book their tickets online.
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Passengers will get an option to choose from alternate trains on the same route, in case the one they want has wait-listed tickets. The step has been introduced for optimum utilisation of available seats in every train. As of now, it will only be available for mail and express trains on selected routes. The scheme will be extended based on passenger feedback.
2. Passengers don’t have to pay anything extra for the new tickets. There also won’t be any refund in case of a difference in cost of the two tickets.
Photo: Flickr
3. Those who opt for the ‘Vikalp’ scheme, will get a confirmation alert in the form of an SMS once there is a confirmed seat. They can then use the original ticket to travel in the different train.
Photo: Flickr
If a passenger opts to cancel the ticket, after he/she has been given an alternate accommodation, he/she will be treated as a confirmed passenger and the cancellation rules will apply accordingly.
4. The name of the passenger who has been provided accommodation in an alternate train, will not be shown in the wait-listed chart of the original train.
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A separate list containing names of passengers transferred to the alternate train will be available along with the confirmed and waitlist charts.
5. Trains which depart or arrive around the same time have been identified as alternatives of each other.
Photo: Flickr
Information about accommodation in alternate train will be available on Call Centre (139), PRS Enquiry Counters, Passenger Operated Enquiry Terminals installed at stations and web enquiry at www.indianrail.gov.in. Find more about the scheme here.
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