Indian Railways is one of the most widely used transportation systems in the country, with millions of people travelling daily. In recent years, the Railways have introduced several new features to make ticket booking and cancellations easier for passengers. One such feature is the Tatkal ticket booking system, which allows passengers to book tickets at short notice period, usually one day before the date of travel. However, many passengers often have questions about Tatkal ticket booking and its cancellation & refund policies. In this article, we will discuss whether a Tatkal ticket can be cancelled and refunded online.
Travel on your mind?
What is a Tatkal Ticket?
A Tatkal ticket is a type of railway ticket that can be booked by passengers who need to travel at short notice period. Do you want to know how to book tatkal tickets? Here’s the answer: The Tatkal booking window opens at 10:00 am for AC classes and 11:00 am for non-AC classes, one day before the date of travel. The Tatkal ticket booking system is available for all trains except for a few premium trains. Tatkal tickets are priced higher than regular tickets and are subject to availability.
Can a Tatkal Ticket be Cancelled?
Can Tatkal ticket be cancelled? Yes, a Tatkal ticket can be cancelled, just like any other railway ticket. However, if you decide to cancel your Tatkal ticket, you will not be given any refund. There is no refund policy for Tatkal tickets, but IRCTC and Indian Railways do allow a few exceptions.
Full Refund Under the Tatkal Scheme
Here are the key points regarding the circumstances in which passengers can receive a full refund of fare and Tatkal charges under the Tatkal scheme:
> If the train is delayed by more than 3 hours at the journey originating point of the passenger (not the boarding point if the passenger’s journey originating point and boarding point are different).
> If the train will be running on a diverted route and the passenger is not willing to travel.
> If the train will be running on a diverted route and either the boarding station or destination (or both) are not on the diverted route.
> If the coach with Tatkal accommodation is not attached, and the passenger has not been provided with accommodation in the same class.
> If the passenger has been accommodated in a lower class and does not want to travel. If the passenger travels in a lower class, they will be refunded the fare and the difference in Tatkal charges, if any.
For contingent cancellations and waitlisted Tatkal ticket cancellations, charges will be deducted as per existing Railway rules. Partial cancellation of Tatkal e-tickets is allowed.
What are the differences between tatkal and premium tatkal schemes?
Tatkal and Premium Tatkal are two types of train reservation schemes in India that are offered by the Indian Railways. Check the points below to know about tatkal vs premium tatkal:
1. Availability: Tatkal tickets are available for booking one day prior to the journey date, whereas Premium Tatkal tickets can be booked on the same day of the journey.
2. Price: The cost of a Tatkal ticket is generally higher than a regular ticket, and the price increases as the date of journey approaches. The cost of a Premium Tatkal ticket is even higher than a Tatkal ticket, and the fare can go up to 30% higher than the base fare.
3. Refunds and Cancellation: Tatkal tickets are non-refundable, but they can be cancelled. A cancellation charge is levied, and the remaining amount is refunded. Premium Tatkal tickets, on the other hand, are non-refundable and cannot be cancelled.
4. Quota: There is a fixed number of Tatkal tickets available for each train, whereas there is no such limit for Premium Tatkal tickets.
5. Time of booking: As mentioned above, Tatkal tickets can be booked one day prior to the journey date, whereas Premium Tatkal tickets can be booked on the same day of the journey, but only a few hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train.
FAQs
1. How many tickets can be booked in Tatkal?
Under the Tatkal scheme, passengers are allowed to book a maximum of four passengers per PNR (Passenger Name Record) for Tatkal tickets.
2. Can someone else travel on a Tatkal ticket?
Passengers can request to transfer their tickets to a family member such as father, mother, sister, brother, daughter, son, husband or wife, but this service must be raised 24 hours before the train’s departure.
3. What is the timing for Tatkal booking?
Tatkal booking for AC classes opens at 10 AM, while for non-AC classes, it opens at 11 AM one day in advance of the actual date of travel, excluding the date of travel itself.
4. Can I select ladies or general quota along with the Tatkal quota?
Ladies and general quota cannot be opted for along with the Tatkal quota.
5. What are the concessions available in Tatkal Scheme?
No concession is allowed in Tatkal booking.
6. What are the various classes of travel available in Tatkal?
Tatkal bookings are allowed in all classes except First AC and Executive class.
