The Business Bytes
New Delhi, October 17, 2024 (TBB Bureau): In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Railways has announced a reduction in the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for train tickets from 120 days to 60 days, effective from November 1, 2024. This change, aimed at improving ticket availability for genuine travellers and reducing the rate of cancellations and no-shows, excludes the date of the journey.
The revised policy is expected to improve the visibility of actual demand for train travel across the country. The Railway Board observed that approximately 21% of bookings made between the 61st and 120th day of the ARP were being canceled, leading to wastage of reserved berths. Additionally, 5% of passengers neither canceled their tickets nor boarded the train, further exacerbating the issue of “no-shows.” This behavior has long contributed to inefficiencies in train seat management and prompted the need for reform.
A Railway spokesperson explained that the new ARP would allow for better planning of special trains during peak seasons, such as holidays and festivals, by providing a clearer picture of genuine travel demand. By shortening the booking window, Indian Railways aims to curb ticket hoarding and reduce instances of passengers holding on to tickets until the last minute before canceling, a practice that has become prevalent under the 120-day reservation period.
While most train services will follow the new 60-day ARP rule, certain exceptions apply. Daytime express trains like the Taj Express and Gomti Express will continue with their shorter ARP limits. Similarly, the 365-day ARP for foreign tourists remains unchanged. All existing reservations made under the 120-day rule prior to October 31, 2024, will remain valid, and cancellations for bookings beyond the new 60-day window will still be honored.
This marks a return to a 60-day ARP for Indian Railways, a policy that was last implemented on January 1, 2015. Historically, the ARP had been as low as 30 days between 1995 and 1998. However, Indian Railways has adjusted its reservation policy over the years based on emerging travel patterns, with the goal of making the system more efficient and accessible for passengers.
The decision to revise the ARP is also seen as an effort to address the growing trend of impersonation and fraudulent activities related to unclaimed tickets. Indian Railways has urged passengers to familiarize themselves with the new rules and book tickets early within the revised 60-day window to ensure seamless travel planning.
With this change, Indian Railways is confident that the shorter reservation period will help reduce the current 21% cancellation rate and make more tickets available to genuine passengers, while ensuring better travel management across its network.
