Railways' `Tatkal' reservation period to be 2 days beginning 1 August
21 Jul 2009
The Railways has decided to reduce the advance reservation period under the 'Tatkal' scheme from five days to two days (excluding the date of journey) for journey commencing from 1 August 2009, as proposed in the Railway budget by railway minister Mamata Banerjee.
The 'Tatkal' reservation period will be reduced from 5 days to two days gradually, beginning 27 July 2009, the minister said.
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has been instructed to make necessary changes in the software for this purpose under intimation to all zonal railways as well as the Railway Board, she said.
Suitable instructions have also been issued to all concerned to ensure smooth change-over to the new time limit, she said.
Meanwhile, the total earnings of Indian Railways on an originating basis during the period 1 July to 10 July 2009 stood at Rs2,194.82 crore against Rs2,024.51 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 8.41 per cent, the minister said.
Total earnings from goods transport went up from Rs1,360.48 crore during 1 July to 10 July 2008 to Rs1,445.45 crore during 1 July to 10 July 2009, showing an increase of 6.25 per cent. Total passenger revenue earnings during the period stood at Rs671.03 crore compared to Rs594.26 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 12.92 per cent. Revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs56.48 crore during the period compared to Rs47.29 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 19.43 per cent.
The total approximate number of passengers booked during the period 1 July to 10 July 2009 were 211.01 million compared with 203.12 million during the same period last year, showing an increase of 3.88 per cent. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during the period was 111.48 million and 99.53 million, respectively, against 112.63 million and 90.49 million during the same period last year, registering a decline of 1.02 per cent and an increase of 9.99 per cent respectively.