VIKALP Scheme by Railway
Indian Railway announced a new Passenger friendly scheme called VIKALP, this is an alternative train accommodation system. This scheme helps the waitlisted passengers to get the vacant berths of other trains running in the same route. VIKALP Scheme by Railway details is following. Passengers can select the scheme while booking the tickets online. If any seats are available in any other trains in the same route passenger will be able to get the message via mobile and he can choose any of the vacant seats. Thorough this Railway can reduce vacant running of the trains and aims to reduce the loss.
Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (VIKALP)
Occupancy pattern of reserved accommodation in Indian Railways is not uniform. It varies over the peak and lean periods, sector to sector and also over different types of trains. While there is vacant accommodation in some trains, in other trains on the same sector passengers remain waitlisted and unable to travel and Railway has to refund the ticket fare to such passengers i.e. losing on two fronts – on one hand, berth going vacant in a train, on other Railways are granting refund to wait for list passengers on the same sector. To avoid accommodation going vacant in different classes of a train an up-gradation scheme was introduced in 2006 wherein passengers of the lower class are upgraded against vacant accommodation available in upper class without realization of the difference of fare. However, there was no scheme to take care of upgradation/transfer across different trains running between the same Origin – Destination pairs.
To meet this requirement Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) was conceptualized and introduced in November 2015 under the name “VIKALP” where an optional facility was given to shift passengers remaining waitlisted irrespective of booking quota and concession at the time of charting in the booked train to be given a confirmed berth in an alternate train which was leaving within a specified time gap. Initially, this scheme was introduced on Delhi-Jammu and Delhi – Lucknow sectors with a limited scope of transferring the passengers across Mail/Express/Superfast trains only for passengers with e-tickets booked through internet. Fully Waitlisted passengers opted for VIKALP should check PNR status after charting. Either all passengers of a PNR or none will be transferred to alternate train in the same class. VIKALP opted passengers who have been provided accommodation in the alternate train will not figure in the waitlisted charts of their original train. The passenger allotted alternate accommodation can travel in the alternate train on the authority of original ticket. Waitlisted passengers of original train shall not be allowed to board the original train if allotted alternate accommodation. If found travelling, they will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.
Passengers once provided alternate accommodation in alternate train will be treated as normal passengers in alternate train and will be eligible for upgradation. In rare situations, passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation might get dropped/re-allotted in alternate train due to last-minute change in the composition of the alternate train at the time of chart preparation. Passenger will also get SMS alert on their Registered mobile phone number about getting confirmed alternate accommodation. When an ATAS opted passenger opts to cancel after he/she has been given an alternate accommodation, he/she will be treated as a CONFIRMED passenger and the cancellation rules will apply accordingly. Once an ATAS passenger has been allotted alternate accommodation, journey modification will not be permitted. If required, the passenger will have to cancel the ticket and book a fresh ticket for the modified journey. When a passenger who has been allotted alternate accommodation has not performed his journey in the alternate train, he can claim for refunds by filing a TDR request.
The scheme was subsequently reviewed and in April 2016 it was extended to five more sectors i.e. Delhi-Howrah,Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Bangalore and Delhi- Secunderabad sectors. This was implemented from May 2016. The scope of the scheme was limited to a similar category of trains. The passengers could not be shifted across all categories of trains. The feedback of the scheme was not encouraging due to this limitation.
From 1st April 2017, the Vikalp/ATAS scheme is being further expanded to provide shifting the waiting list passengers of one train across all categories of trains without realization of any difference of fare or grant of refund as the case may be. Thus a passenger booked in a normal Mail/Express train can be shifted to an alternate Mail/Express, Rajdhani, Humsafar, Duronto, Shatabdi, Special train or Suvidha train in the same class of accommodation or vice versa subject to opting for this scheme.
The rationale behind allowing this facility is that the reserved accommodation is a perishable commodity and once a train leaves a platform with a vacant seat/berth, the potential revenue is lost to railways. This is expected to optimize berth utilization across all trains, carry more passengers as well as increase earnings by reducing refunds of waitlisted tickets. The expanded “Vikalp” scheme will be available on e-tickets to start with but will be extended to PRS tickets as well. Railway announced through a press release about the scheme as follows:- Opting for VIKALP does not mean that confirmed berth will be provided to passengers in alternate train. It is subject to train and berth availability. Once confirmed in Alternate train, Cancellation charges will be as per your berth/train status in alternate train. In this scheme, your boarding and terminating station might change to nearby cluster stations. You can be transferred to any alternate train opted and departing between 30 minutes to 12 hours from the scheduled departure of original train, in which you have booked. The option of VIKALP scheme is available at a later stage before charting also through booked ticket history link. Please check PNR status after charting.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- This scheme is implemented for passengers of Mail/Express trains. The scheme is applicable to all waiting list passengers irrespective of booking quota and concession.
- Under this scheme, passengers will opt max 5 trains for VIKALP scheme.
- VIKALP opted passengers who booked in waiting and remain fully Waitlisted after charting will only be considered for allotment in the alternate train.
- The passengers can exercise the option for getting shifted to a train upto 72 hours of scheduled departure of original train in which waitlisted ticket was booked.
- All the passengers booked under the scheme are given an option for getting alternated accommodation irrespective of the fact whether the boarding / destination station of the passenger are originating / terminating / roadside station.
- Fully WL passengers opted for VIKALP should check PNR status after charting.
- No extra charges shall be taken from passenger or any refund shall be provided for difference of fare.
- Either all passengers of a PNR or none will be transferred to alternate train in the same class. The passenger can be considered for shifting to a train leaving from any station amongst the cluster of stations defined by Railways based on the convenience of the passengers to a station serving the destination station on the same analogy.
- The VIKALP opted passengers who have been provided accommodation in the alternate train will not figure in the waitlisted charts of their original train. A separate list of passengers transferred in alternate train will be pasted along with the CONFIRMED and WAITLIST charts.
- The passenger allotted alternate accommodation can travel in the alternate train on the authority of original ERS/SMS.
- Waitlisted passengers of original train shall not be allowed to board the original train if allotted alternate accommodation.
- Passengers once provided alternate accommodation in alternate train will be treated as normal passengers in alternate train and will be eligible for up-gradation.
- In rare situations, passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation might get dropped/re-allotted in alternate train due to last-minute change in the composition of the alternate train at the time of chart preparation. So, passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation should check PNR status also after preparation of charts of the alternate train for final status.
- This information will be available on Call Centre (139), PRS Enquiry Counters, Passenger Operated Enquiry Terminals installed at stations and WEB ENQUIRY on www.indianrail.gov.in
- When VIKALP opted passenger opts to cancel after he has been given an alternate accommodation, he will be treated as a CONFIRMED passenger and the cancellation rules will apply accordingly.
- No refund for the difference of fare between the original train and the alternate train, including Tatkal charges, will be given to re-allocated passengers.
- Once a VIKALP opted passenger has been allotted alternate accommodation, journey modification will not be permitted. If required, the passenger will have to cancel the ticket and book a fresh ticket for the modified journey.
- When a passenger who has been allotted alternate accommodation has not performed his journey in the alternate train, he can claim for refunds by filing a TDR request.
- Train list once selected under VIKALP scheme cannot be changed. VIKALP Scheme once successfully opted cannot be changed.
FAQs
✅What is a Vikalp Scheme in Railway?
Vikalp scheme is an alternative train accommodation system (ATAS). This scheme helps the waitlisted passengers to get the vacant berths of other trains running in the same route. The VIKALP scheme was launched in 2015 to make sure available berths are optimally used. This facility is available when you book a ticket through IRCTC.
✅Can Passenger cancel Vikalp Scheme?
No, a Passenger can’t cancel the Vikalp option once you have selected to opted for Vikalp. However you can file the TDR once first chart prepared(original train). Once confirmed in Alternate train, Cancellation charges will be as per your berth/train status in alternate train.