Railways expands "Vikalp" scheme for wait-listed passengers to 5 new routes
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With positive feedback pouring in from passengers on its "Vikalp" initiative, Indian Railways has decided to launch the Alternative Train Accommodation scheme for wait-listed passengers on five new and busy routes on its network.
Under the scheme, wait-listed passengers are allowed to get confirmed seats on the next alternative train if they choose that option while booking tickets online. The scheme, launched on a pilot basis in November last year, is currently applicable on the Delhi-Lucknow and Delhi-Jammu routes.
"In line with the announcement made in the railway budget 2016-17 regarding expansion of this scheme, the matter has been reviewed and it has been decided that Vikalp should also be introduced on five new sectors in normal mail and express trains and superfast trains except Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and Suvidha trains," a senior rail ministry official told Business Standard.
The five new routes include Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Bangalore and Delhi-Secundarabad. "The Vikalp (Alternative Train Accommodation System) scheme introduced in October 2015 will be expanded to provide choice of accommodation in specific trains to wait-listed passengers," Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu had said in his speech for 2016-17 budget.
As per the latest decision, the expanded scheme would provide the option of alternative accommodation irrespective of whether the boarding and destination stations of the passenger are originating and terminating stations on the route.
The expanded scheme is being introduced on the five new routes on a pilot basis for six months and the railway board has asked Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the rail ministry's technincal arm, to make necessary modifications in the ticketing software.
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