The Ministry of Railways has revised its passenger reservation/cancellation form format to benefit passengers booking tickets through PRS counters nationwide. Now, the VIKALP scheme option and the Aadhaar number option are also available for booking through reservation/cancellation form windows and not only through online booking, said a Railway Ministry statement.
In the revised railway reservation/cancellation form, passengers have been given the option to either avail the option of the VIKALP scheme or not, where they can give their preference by ticking the yes or no column.
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In this scheme, waitlisted passengers in a train can opt for permanent accommodation in alternative trains. Now, the benefit of the VIKALP option is available not only through online booking but also through PRS counters. If the passenger avails VIKALP option, he/she should mark the selection of an alternative train departing within 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours. Also, passengers are given an optional choice to mention their Aadhaar number in the reservation/cancellation form.
Important Note for booking Reservation via Counter Ticket
- Maximum permissible passengers in 6.
- The maximum number of passengers that can include in one reservation is 6. For example, If you want to book 10 passengers then required 2 Reservations for,.
- One Person can give one requisition form at a time.
- Pregnant women can get a lower berth reserved for themselves on a first cum-first basis against the senior citizen quota.
Difference between Counter Tickets and Online Tickets
While traveling on Indian Railways, there is an option to book tickets online. This ticket can be in e-ticket or i-ticket format. The difference between the two is how the passenger gets the ticket. An e-ticket is an electronic ticket that passengers can book and print at their convenience. I-Ticket must be booked two days before the day of travel. This ticket is then couriered by the Railways to the address provided by the passenger. Someone must be at home to receive tickets; Otherwise, it will delay the process.While using an e-ticket, the person traveling must also carry an identity document to prove that he is the same person who booked the ticket. Since most people usually carry an identification document such as a passport or driver's license when they travel; It's not that difficult. Also, an e-ticket is slightly cheaper than an i-ticket because the i-ticket is added to the delivery charge to cover the cost of the courier. Also, the cancellation process for an e-ticket and an i-ticket is different, the e-ticket is easier to cancel.
Reservation Rules
IMPORTANT - FOR SENIOR CITIZENS :
From 1st September 2001 onwards, a concession to senior citizens through PRS (Passenger Reservation
System) shall be granted only on demand and not by default as at present. The demand for concession shall be
made on the Reservation Requisition form in the case of reserved tickets. In the case of tickets issued to senior
citizens on concession, during the journey the concerned passengers are instructed to carry some documentary proof
showing their age or date of birth, issued by any Government Institution/Agency/Local Body. like Identity cards,
Driving Licenses, Passports, Educational certificates, certificates from Local Bodies like
Panchayat/Corporation/Municipality, or any other authentic and recognized document. This documentary proof of
age should be produced if demanded by some Railway official during the journey.
TRANSFER / RESALE OF TICKETS PROHIBITED :
Under Section 142 of the Railways ACT, journey tickets including any half of a return ticket and season ticket
are not transferable.
If any person not being a Railway Servant or an agent authorised on this behalf :
a. sells or attempts to sell any ticket or any half of a return ticket, or b. parts or attempts to part with the
possession of a ticket against which reservation of a seat or a berth has been made or any half of a return
ticket or season ticket. He shall be punishable under the Railways Act.
In addition, if the purchaser or holder of the transferred ticket travels or attempts to travel therewith, he shall forfeit
the ticket that he so purchased or obtained and shall be deemed to be travelling without a proper ticket.
INDICATION OF BERTH/SEAT NUMBERS :
Passengers with confirmed reservations will be allotted berths at the time of booking and the coach and
berth numbers are indicated on the ticket itself, except in the case of first-class ACC and first-class coaches. The
compartment/cabin/coupe numbers for first ACC and first class are allotted at the time of chart preparation.
RESERVATION AGAINST CANCELLATION (R.A.C.) :
The passengers whose names figure under R.A.C., are provided reserved sitting accommodation initially and
are likely to get berths becoming vacant due to last minutes cancellations of reservations of passengers not turning
up in time before the departure of the train,.
WHEN RESERVATION WORK CEASES :
The requests for reservation at the reservation counters are accepted up to 4 hours before the scheduled
departure of the train, after which, the reservation will be done at the current counters at the stations up to one hour
before the scheduled departure of the train and thereafter by the Ticket Collector/Conductor on the platform if
vacant berths/seats are available.
RESERVATION FROM INTERMEDIATE STATIONS :
(a) Requisition for reservation of berths in all classes from intermediate stations not having computerized
reservation facility are entertained on purchase of journey tickets only.
Such requisition should be given to the
Station Master of the Intermediate station 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the train from the station.
Such application shall be sent to the nearest computerized reservation office at the earliest.
CANCELLATION OF RESERVATION DUE TO LATE ARRIVAL OF PASSENGER :
If a passenger, for whom a berth or seat has been reserved, does not turn up 10 minutes before the
scheduled departure of the train, the Railway Administration may cancel the accommodation reserved for him and
allow it to the passenger on the RAC list/Waiting list accordingly on priority.
CHANGE OF BOARDING POINT :
If a passenger desires to occupy reserved accommodation from any station en route, he would be permitted
to entrain at any intermediate station he chooses irrespective of the distance from the starting station subject to the
following conditions :
1. A specific request must be made in writing at the station from where the ticket is purchased and a reservation
made at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train from the starting station.
2. The Railway Administration reserves the right to use such accommodation from the originating station up to
the station at which the passenger is due to entrain.
3. No refund will be permissible for the portion of the journey not performed by the passenger.