Indian railways reduces advance reservation period to 60 days
PTC Web Desk: The Indian Railways has implemented a significant change in its ticketing policy, reducing the advance reservation period (ARP) from 120 days to just 60 days. This new rule took effect on Friday, November 1, following a circular issued to passengers on October 16.
The decision to shorten the ARP comes just before the winter season and the festive period, with the aim of promoting genuine travelers and addressing the increasing "no-show" trend. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), approximately 21% of reservations made for the 61 to 120-day period were cancelled, while about 5% of passengers neither canceled their tickets nor undertook their journeys. This no-show trend has influenced the policy change, which is expected to assist Indian Railways in better planning for special train services during peak times.
With this adjustment, passengers will no longer be able to book tickets three months or more in advance. However, those who have already made reservations will not be impacted by the new rule.
The PIB further noted that the changes in the ARP policy are based on evolving reservation trends and the uncertainty of travel among passengers. Additionally, the existing 365-day ARP limit for foreign tourists remains unchanged.
The advance reservation period was last modified in 2015, and prior to 1998, it was as low as 30 days. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which manages ticketing for train journeys, has 66 million registered users as of December 2023, with an average of 731,000 tickets booked daily.
- With inputs from agencies
