How the hoarding of rail tickets is getting tougher

You could book three months in advance, yet manage only a waitlisted ticket. A confirmed ticket on an Indian train is just so elusive. Come November 1, this pain-point could become less common with the advance reservation period slashed from four months to just two months. Officials are calling it a “professional, operational” decision that could help get rid of ticket hoarders.
The advance reservation period, which has been revised many times in the past, has ranged from 30 to 120 days. From April 1981 to January 1985, the first time people were allowed to book tickets 120 days ahead, the rate of cancellations went up to about 21 per cent even as 4-5 per cent of ticket holders did not show up for their trains. “There is a tendency to hold many tickets and then cancel or not show up. This stops many passengers from using the trains,” says a high-level railway officer. Also, situations where people do not cancel but also do not show up lead to cheating, like someone pretending to be someone else, or illegal deals between passengers and staff.
A shorter booking period, on the other hand, means less people booking tickets too early and then cancelling. It also cuts down on misuse via mass booking as genuine passengers more often book closer to their journey. Officials believe that seeing real demand because of fewer cancellations and no-shows helps the Indian Railways plan extra trains during busy times of the year.
The new rule will stay until further notice, with officials watching the outcomes. Passengers should organise their trips accordingly and use the new 60-day period for easy booking.
Subscribe to India Today Magazine