India --Railways plans dedicated counters for tatkal tickets

arun: I did not notice that tatkal reservation cannot be done online. If it is so then it is not beneficial for travellers but benefit touts who will employ more people for this work.

Hi Ravi, That's want I meant to say. I just suffered a lot from their booking system in the month of April. Though I have booked 4 tickets about 3 months in advance, I had to cancell at the time of travel and had to depend on other source of travles, where as a frined of mine secured 2 tickest for the same train, same class just before 15 days of his travel (he said he got the ticket through INFLUENCE and had to pay more for it). Considering this fact - I had to block an amount of Rs 10,000/- and more for 3 months and when it cancelled 1 day before the travel, I had to pay for cancellation charges and when the railways got 3 months of my cash for rolling also they got benefited. It is my suggestion that if we are not getting a confirmed ticket after blocking 3-4 months, the railways has to pay the INTEREST, instaed of penalty or fine for the same. They are using the money, plus charging also! It is absolutely cheating and I have notified the same earlier also, but no one considered. In fact the railways block such a huge amount (in millions) in a day and they keep hold of the money for quite some time. The intention for advance booking period to extend from 3 months to 4 months is also may be aiming to get a long period of time to use the common people's cash in their reserve. Imaging, if a family book 6 tickets in Ist AC and they have to cancell the ticket after 4 months and also they MAY go for a choice of another date and another train with a hope of getting a confirmed ticket. Probably, we block 20-25 thousands in such a way and this is to be bring to the noice of the media and to be analysed, as the railways is using the money for nothing. Hope you come back from US after your visit and think you are fine and well. Regards

Also, if the ticket is booking through an agent, we have to pay the commission accordingly. Again, if we book a ticket ONLINE, for the cancellation, railway counter will not help and they will inform us to cancel it through online process only. Their system is so poor and outdated and sometime we may get totally irritated with their meaningless behaviour and treatment.

thanks1961 I also think this will benefit middle level ticket booking agents rather than helping genuine travellers.

Kalyni: Oh! tatkal reservation cannot be done now online. thanks madam. good day.

aminus: It is true any change will be liked by a few and not liked by a few. Postponing by two hours is not going to improve the chances of getting tickets. Why not the government think of abolishing travel agents system totally?

unicornz: The fraudsters will find out different means for making money out of this situation also. we have to wait and see.

unicornz: as per revised rules -- can one person book for all the members of his family or not? Or is it everybody who has to travel has to come to the booking counter for booking tickets. ridiculous online booking by all except agents should be allowed.

p1kef1sh Earlier system of booking two/three days in advance was fine. but now one day and that too from 10 am. people who experience problems will have to share-- at the emergency the person may not be able to spare time to go and stand in person at the station.. let us see

garavegeta: I do not understand the logic behind this move. I wish some people write to the Letter to the Editor of leading dailies and bring this fact to their notice.