RAC Tickets Allowed, Advanced Reservation Period In AC Trains Increased To 30 Days

New Delhi: The Indian Railways on Friday decided to increase advance booking by passengers to 30 days from earlier seven days and also booking of waiting and reservation against cancellation tickets for 15 pairs of special air-conditioned trains.

Rajesh Dutt Bajpai, Executive Director, Media, Railway Ministry, said that the decision to increase advance reservation period (ARP) of 15 pairs of special trains being run since May 12 was taken for the convenience of passengers.

He said that the RAC or waiting list tickets will be issued in these trains as per extant instructions applicable.

"However, waitlisted passengers will not be allowed to board these trains as per extant instructions," he said, adding that there shall be no Tatkal booking in these trains.

He also said that the first reservation chart of these trains shall be prepared at least four hours before scheduled departure and second chart at least two hours (unlike the earlier practice of 30 minutes) before the scheduled departure.

Bajpai said that the booking of tickets shall be permissible through computerized PRS counters, including Post Offices, Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra licensees etc, as well as through online booking by authorized agents of Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation and Common Service Centres.

He said that the revised rules will be applicable from May 24 for trains starting date of May 31 onwards.

With the coming resumption of train services, the Indian Railways has given green signal to the re-opening of reservation counters and booking through the Common Service Centres (CSCs) and also ticket agents.

This development came after Railways announced 200 more special trains from June 1.

The Railways Ministry had earlier said the tickets can be booked through the IRCTC website or its mobile app only. According to a statement, the zonal railways have been instructed to decide and notify the opening of reservation counters in a phased manner on Friday along with dissemination of information about their locations and timings as per local needs and conditions. The opening of booking centres will mark an important step in the graded restoration of passenger railway services

From Friday onwards, the Railways has also allowed booking of reservation tickets through the Common Service Centres and ticketing agents. The running of Shramik Special trains will continue to be handled by local state governments as per the existing protocols.

"Opening of all these booking facilities once again will mark an important step in the graded restoration of passenger railway services and making the task of ticket booking easy for all prospective travellers from all parts of India in reserved trains. Zonal railways may adhere to standard social distancing guidelines and observe the hygiene protocols in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic," said the statement.

(IANS)

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