Waitlisted rail passengers to get confirmed berth under 'Vikalp'

The alternative train accommodation scheme will take off in trains running on Delhi-Lucknow and  Delhi-Jammu sectors from November 1.

The Railways is launching a new scheme on Sunday under which waitlisted passengers can get confirmed accommodation in next alternative train if they opt for the option while booking their tickets online.

Known as Viklap, the alternative train accommodation scheme will take off in trains running on Delhi-Lucknow and  Delhi-Jammu sectors from November 1, on a pilot basis.

Initially, Vikalp scheme will be available only for the tickets booked through internet for six months and option will be limited to mail and express trains on the two selected routes, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

As per the scheme, waitlisted passengers of a train would be given option of getting confirmed accommodation in the next train running on the route.

Railway aims to achieve the twin objectives of providing confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation by this scheme.

While there is a huge demand for train berths in certain sectors round the year, some routes witness increased rush during festive season.

Describing the scheme as a "passenger friendly" move to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers in alternative trains, the official said, the scheme will be extended to reservation booking counters and also on other routes after getting the feedback.

Passenger, if opts for the Vikalp scheme while booking tickets online, will get SMS alert on their mobile phone about getting confirmed accommodation in alternative train.

As per the scheme, there would be no extra charges taken from the passenger or any refund provided for the difference of fare.

The name of passenger who have been provided accommodation in the alternative train will not figure in the waitlisted charts of their original train, the official said, adding a separate list of passengers transferred in alternative train will be pasted along with the confirmed and waitlist charts.