The Indian Railways has made many changes in the reservation procedures.
Getting a confirmed train ticket in India is not easy, especially during festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja. The reason is that around the festivals, the number of passengers on the trains suddenly increases and it becomes very difficult for the railways to give a seat to everyone. To ensure that the passengers get confirmed seats, the Indian Railways has made many changes in the reservation procedures, so that the passengers can book their tickets without any hassle. The Indian railways have taken steps to provide more confirmed tickets using artificial intelligence. In addition, the railways have introduced the Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) called VIKALP Yojana. This scheme allows the passengers to select multiple trains at once. The passenger gets the option to travel on the train where a seat is available.
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If you too have to travel home on the occasion of Diwali or Chhath Puja and are unable to get a confirmed ticket, then you should use the VIKALP ticket reservation option. This will increase your chances of getting a confirmed ticket. Passengers must be aware of the rules and facilities of the railways so that they do not face any problems while purchasing tickets. Railways allow booking of tickets 120 days before the date of travel. At the same time, passengers who need to travel in emergencies can also book tickets a day before the journey by using the Tatkal facility.
How to choose the VIKALP scheme?
The railways have named the Alternative Train Accommodation (ATAS) scheme VIKALP, under which it tries to provide as many confirmed tickets as possible to the passengers. When you book a ticket online, you will automatically be suggested the VIKALP option.
In this option, you have the option to choose other trains on that route if you have a waiting ticket for the train you have chosen. If a seat or couchette is available on an alternative train during the journey, you will automatically be allocated a seat on that train. You can check the status of this option by visiting the history of your booked tickets.
Under the VIKALP program, passengers can choose 7 trains that should run from the boarding station to the destination within 30 minutes to 72 hours. It is important to note that choosing this option does not mean that you will definitely get a confirmed ticket. This depends on the availability of seats on the trains you choose. By choosing this option, you can increase your chances of getting a confirmed ticket. The VIKALP program is designed to provide passengers with convenient and easy travel.
