Indian Railways Cuts Advance Booking Time- Here’s What You Need to Know!
New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has announced a significant update regarding the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for train bookings. Effective from November 1, 2024, the time limit for advance reservations will be reduced from 120 days to 60 days (excluding the date of journey).
This decision is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to streamline booking processes. The changes are outlined as follows:
- New ARP of 60 Days: Starting from November 1, 2024, passengers will be able to book train tickets up to 60 days in advance (excluding the journey date). All bookings made under the existing Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of 120 days prior to October 31, 2024, will remain valid.
- Cancellations: Cancellations of tickets booked beyond the new Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of 60 days will be allowed as per the current rules.
- Foreign Tourist Quota: The current reservation limit of 365 days for Foreign Tourists will remain unchanged.
Over the years, the ARP for railway reservations has undergone several adjustments, ranging from 30 days to 120 days, based on operational requirements and passenger convenience. After a thorough analysis of previous reservation trends, the Ministry has determined that a 60-day ARP is the most optimal timeframe. This will reduce instances of cancellations and no-show passengers, helping the Indian Railways better manage seat utilization and plan services accordingly.
Benefits of the New 60-Day Reservation Period:
- Reduced Wastage of Seats: The previous 120-day period was too long, resulting in high cancellations and wastage of berths due to passengers not turning up.
- Improved Seat Utilization: Currently, about 21% of tickets are cancelled, with 4-5% passengers being no-shows. A shorter booking window will reduce such instances, providing better seat availability for genuine travellers.
- Minimizing Fraud: The shorter ARP reduces the chance of fraudulent practices such as impersonation or misuse of the system by blocking tickets unnecessarily.
- Flexibility for Passengers: Shorter reservation periods encourage more genuine bookings, as passengers are more likely to have confirmed travel plans.
- Efficient Rail Operations: With a clearer picture of demand, the Railways will be able to schedule special trains in advance to meet passenger needs during peak seasons.
Passengers are requested to kindly take note of these changes and plan their travel bookings accordingly.
