50% Concession for Male senior citizens and 40% Concession for Lady senior citizens

FACILITIES EXTENDED TO SENIOR CITIZENS

The following facilities have been extended from time to time to Senior citizens:

(i) As per rules, male senior citizens of minimum 60 years and lady senior citizens of minimum 58 years are granted concession in the fares of all classes of Mail/ Express/ Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ , Jan Shatabdi/ Duronto group of trains. The element of concession is 40% for men and 50% for women.

No proof of age is required at the time of purchasing tickets. However, they are required to carry some documentary proof as prescribed showing their age or date of birth and have to produce it if demanded by on-board ticket checking staff. Senior citizens can book reserved tickets across the reservation counters as well as through internet.

(ii) In the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) there is a provision to allot lower berths to Senior Citizens, Female passengers of 45 years and above automatically, even if no choice is given, subject to availability of accommodation at the time of booking.

(iii) A combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) has been earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.

(iv) Accommodation is also earmarked for senior citizens during specified hours on suburban sections by Central & Western Railways.

(v) Instructions exist for provision of wheel chairs at stations. This facility is provided, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice. Moreover, Zonal Railways have also been advised to provide ‘Battery Operated Vehicles for persons with disability and Old Aged Passengers’ at Railway Stations on merit – whether free of cost through commercial publicity route or through ‘user pays’ route. In addition, passenger can book e-wheel chairs online through IRCTC portal www.irctc.co.in.

(vi) To help old and disabled passengers requiring assistance at the stations and to strengthen the existing services, ‘Yatri Mitra Sewa’ is being provided through IRCTC at major stations for enabling passengers to book wheel chair services cum porter services etc.

(vii) After departure of the train, if there are vacant lower berths available in the train and if any person with disability booked on the authority of handicapped concession or a senior citizen or a pregnant woman, who has been allotted upper/ middle berth, approaches for allotment of vacant lower berths, the on board Ticket Checking Staff has been authorized to allot the vacant lower berth to them making necessary entries in the chart.

(viii) Separate counters are earmarked at various Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centers for dealing with the reservation requisitions received from persons with disability, Senior Citizens, Ex. MPs, MLAs, accredited journalists and freedom fighters, if the average demand per shift not less than 120 tickets.

In case there is no justification for earmarking of an exclusive counter for any of these categories of persons including persons with disability or senior citizens, one or two counters depending upon the total demand are earmarked for dealing with the reservation requests for all these categories of persons.

Source: Indian Railways

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27 MAR 2018

On Indian Railways, reserved accommodation including Tatkal accommodation can be booked through computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) on first come first served basis. During peak rush periods/days when demand outstrips  the availability, reserved accommodation especially in higher classes and on popular routes gets exhausted within short duration of opening of reservation.  However,   during lean periods, on non-popular and lower classes, the accommodation remains available for longer duration.  The phenomenon is more relevant for Tatkal where limited accommodation is earmarked. This happens as the available limited accommodation is accessed simultaneously through more than 10,300 counters at 3465 computerised Passenger Reservation Centers as well as through internet.

To avoid misuse of Tatkal Scheme, there are some inbuilt features in Tatkal scheme which includes provision of not granting refund on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of certain special circumstances indicated in the scheme, not allowing any modification of Tatkal ticket, etc. Some additional steps have also been taken to facilitate the passengers and to avoid the misuse, some of which are:-

• Staggering of the timings of reservation under Tatkal scheme.
• Captcha implementation in Registration, Login and Booking page to check fraudulent booking through automation software.
• Imposition of minimum time limit before proceeding for payment gateway as well as after making payment while booking tickets through internet.
• Making OTP(one time password) compulsory for all net Banking Payment options.
• Disabling authorised agents to book Tatkal tickets during first half an hour of opening of reservation.

To keep a check on the activities of touts, preventive as well as regular checks are conducted jointly/individually by Vigilance, Security and Commercial Departments, and the action against the culprits is taken as per provisions of Section 143 of Railways Act, 1989.

This information was made available in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

PIB

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In a significant move to provide additional booking facilities, Ministry of Railways has undertaken an exercise of rationalization of Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) with a view to enable passengers to buy tickets even after the preparation of reservation charts. These new provisions will come into effect from 12th November, 2015. The rationalization exercise will also facilitate implementation of revised refund rules (notified recently) which will also become effective from 12th November, 2015. Under this exercise, sufficient time gap will be provided to passengers between preparation of charts and departure of train so that they can plan journeys properly.

The following are the advantages of rationalization of computerized Passenger Reservation System : –

a)Reservation charts will invariably be made at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and in case if the same are not made by the charting section, the system will automatically finalise them 4 hours before the scheduled departure of train(w.e.f. 18th November 2015). This will facilitate passengers to know the status of the ticket to plan their journey well in time. (this may be referred as the first reservation chart)

b)Immediately after preparation of first reservation charts, the reservation will again become open at the PRS counters as well as on internet (e-ticket) and the passengers can:-

Book the available accommodation in the train for full/partial leg of the journey, in case there is no RAC/waitlist for that leg.In case of passengers holding RAC/waiting list ticket, the passengers will be given facility to cancel the ticket up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of train. This will facilitate the passengers, particularly partially confirmed passengers, to decide either to undertake the journey or to cancel their ticket.

c) A second (and final) chart of reservations will be made available before departure of train and handed over to onboard ticket checking staff.

This exercise will ensure optimum utilization of train accommodation as well as enhanced earnings.

d)For the present, the condition for printing of first reservation charts at least four hours before departure of train shall be applicable in case of train originating station.

Under the above mentioned rationalization, the passengers can book / cancel / modify the tickets even after the preparation of first reservation chart but only upto 30 minutes before the departure of train across any PRS Counters as well as on internet (E-ticket) as per extant provision of Refund Rules. In case of e-tickets where after preparation of first reservation charts, passengers had the option to only file online Ticket Deposit Receipt and to request for refund, now will have the facility to modify/cancel the partially confirmed ticket and get refund electronically. Passengers holding PRS counter ticket / I-ticket will now be saved from the botheration of going only to current reservation counter at the journey originating station to book / cancel / modify ticket after the preparation of first reservation chart as per refund rules. They can now go to any PRS counter. Additionally, the facility will continue to be available at current reservation counters, wherever required. Later, this facility is also proposed be made available at some designated UTS counters at stations for which the work is under progress.

PIB

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The Exercise to Benefit Railway Passengers with Additional Booking Facilities

The Booking of Reserved Tickets on PRS Counters as well as on Internet (E-Ticket) Becomes Available Even After the Preparation of Reservation Chart

The Provisions of Rationalization Exercise Hasto Come into Effect from 12th November, 2015 (Thursday)

In a significant move to provide additional booking facilities, Ministry of Railways has undertaken an exercise of rationalization of Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) with a view to enable passengers to buy tickets even after the preparation of reservation charts. These new provisions will come into effect from 12th November, 2015. The rationalization exercise will also facilitate implementation of revised refund rules (notified recently) which will also become effective from 12th November, 2015. Under this exercise, sufficient time gap will be provided to passengers between preparation of charts and departure of train so that they can plan journeys properly.

The following are the advantages of rationalization of computerized Passenger Reservation System : –

a) Reservation charts will invariably be made at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and in case if the same are not made by the charting section, the system will automatically finalise them 4 hours before the scheduled departure of train(w.e.f. 18th November 2015). This will facilitate passengers to know the status of the ticket to plan their journey well in time. (this may be referred as the first reservation chart)

b) Immediately after preparation of first reservation charts, the reservation will again become open at the PRS counters as well as on internet (e-ticket) and the passengers can:-

• Book the available accommodation in the train for full/partial leg of the journey, in case there is no RAC/waitlist for that leg.
• In case of passengers holding RAC/waiting list ticket, the passengers will be given facility to cancel the ticket up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of train. This will facilitate the passengers, particularly partially confirmed passengers, to decide either to undertake the journey or to cancel their ticket.

c) A second (and final) chart of reservations will be made available before departure of train and handed over to onboard ticket checking staff.
This exercise will ensure optimum utilization of train accommodation as well as enhanced earnings.

d) For the present, the condition for printing of first reservation charts at least four hours before departure of train shall be applicable in case of train originating station.

Under the abovementioned rationalization, the passengers can book / cancel / modify the tickets even after the preparation of first reservation chart but only upto 30 minutes before the departure of train across any PRS Counters as well as on internet (E-ticket) as per extant provision of Refund Rules. In case of e-tickets where after preparation of first reservation charts, passengers had the option to only file online Ticket Deposit Receipt and to request for refund, now will have the facility to modify/cancel the partially confirmed ticket and get refund electronically. Passengers holding PRS counter ticket / I-ticket will now be saved from the botheration of going only to current reservation counter at the journey originating station to book / cancel / modify ticket after the preparation of first reservation chart as per refund rules. They can now go to any PRS counter. Additionally, the facility will continue to be available at current reservation counters, wherever required. Later, this facility is also proposed be made available at some designated UTS counters at stations for which the work is under progress.

PIB

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Press Information Bureau,
Government of India
Ministry of Railways

25-March, 2015

With a view to facilitating provisions of lower berths to senior citizens and female passengers, following facilities are available:-

(i) There is a provision in the computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to allot lower berth automatically to male passengers above the age of 60 years and female passengers above the age of 45 years subject to availability of the same at the time of booking of ticket.

(ii) A combined reservation quota of two lower berths per coach is earmarked in Sleeper, AC 3Tier and AC 2Tier for following category of passengers when travelling alone:

a. Senior citizens;
b. Female passengers 45 years of age and above; and
c. Pregnant women.

(iii) Instructions are also there to assist senior citizens and physically handicapped persons who have been allotted middle/upper berths by allotting them vacant lower berths available in the train by the ticket checking staff on first come first served basis (after making necessary entry in the reservation chart).

(iv) A six berths compartment in Sleeper Class is also earmarked in long distance Mail/Express trains for female passengers.

(v) It has now been decided that:-

· The existing combined quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women (when travelling alone) may be enhanced to four lower berths per coach. There will, however, be no change in this quota being earmarked in 3A and 2A classes.

· The scope of instructions regarding assisting senior citizens and physically handicapped persons in getting lower berths in the train has been expanded to include pregnant women also. Hence, onboard ticket checking staff are now authorised to allot vacant lower berths available in the train to senior citizens, physically handicapped persons and pregnant women (who have been allotted middle/upper berths), on approach, on first come first served basis after making necessary entry in the chart.

· It has also been decided that the existing reservation quota of six berths for female passengers being earmarked in long distance Mail/Express trains should be in the middle of the coach and also to the extent feasible, the senior citizen quota should be earmarked in the middle of the coach.

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Ministry of Railways has made some relaxation in the condition of production of original Proof of Identity during train travel and particularly for the passengers belonging to the lower economic classes.

Under this relaxation, attested photocopy of Ration Card with photograph and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photographs shall also be accepted as a prescribed proof of identity only in case of reserved tickets booked through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, for undertaking journey in Sleeper (SL) and Second Reserved Sitting (2S) classes.  The photocopy of the Ration Card with photograph and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph should be attested by a Gazetted Officer or the Chief Reservation Supervisor or Station Manager/Station Master.  This relaxation applies only to Ration Card and Nationalized Bank Pass Book and not in case of other types of proofs of identity cards  for which  only original proof  will be required during journey.

The above provision is not applicable for all classes of e-tickets and Tatkal tickets and tickets issued through PRS counter for travelling in Air-conditioned classes and First Class.  Travelling with these categories of tickets shall continue to be governed by existing instructions.

This provision shall be made effective from 15.1.2013.

Source : PIB News

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