Tatkal bookings have been a constant point of discussion when it comes to Railway Ticket Booking Reservations. Agents and touts have historically cornered majority of Tatkal bookings and then sold them at much higher prices to train travelers. They were able to take advantage and exploit the Tatkal booking system.
However, IRCTC in recent times have been taking steps to ensure that touts are kept away from the system and normal passengers are able to fairly use the Tatkal booking system.
Here are 9 steps that IRCTC has taken to plug holes into the Tatkal Reservation System
- The timing of opening of reservation of Tatkal tickets has been changed to 10:00 am on the previous day of journey instead of 08:00 hours as per earlier provision. This makes it easier for normal traveler to access the Tatkal booking system.
- Access to Tatkal bookings has been denied to agents both through internet as well as across the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters between 10:00 am & 12:00 am.
- Captcha has been introduced to check fraudulent booking on internet through automation software.
- Only 2 tickets can be booked per IP address between 10:00 am & 12:00 am to avoid multiple booking from same office/internet café.
- Quick book option and booking on cash card is not allowed between 10:00 am & 12:00 am.
- Individual users can also book only two tickets between 10:00 am & 12:00 am. (This may be restrictive for normal users, but this has been done so that agents don’t login as normal travelers and do multiple bookings)
- No refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except under special circumstances like cancellation of train, late running of train by more than three hours, etc.
- Duplicate Tatkal tickets are not issued except on payment of full fare.
- Facility of change of name is not available under this scheme.
IRCTC has done well by introducing these steps and touts will not be able to easily game the system. Having said that, there will still be some who may circumvent and take advantage of it.
What’s your take? Anything else IRCTC can do keep the touts away from Tatkal bookings…?