Has the Railways shortened the Advance Reservation Period before?
The Indian Railways is reducing the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) from 120 days to 60 days starting November 1, 2024.
The ARP was previously 60 days from 1995 to 2007 and even shorter (45 days) from 1988 to 1993.
Between 1981 and 1985, the ARP was set at 90 days, showcasing a history of adjustments based on passenger needs and operational efficiency.
How do longer booking windows give rise to frauds?
Longer booking periods lead to a high cancellation rate (up to 21%).
Around 4-5% of passengers do not show up for their booked tickets, creating wasted capacity.
Longer booking periods facilitate impersonation and illegal practices by railway officials, such as taking bribes to allot empty berths.
Touts can block significant numbers of tickets, hindering genuine passengers from securing reservations.
Shortening the ARP is expected to promote ticket purchases by genuine travelers, reducing the scope for touting.
Are these rules extended to foreign passengers as well?
Foreign tourists have access to a longer booking window (up to a year) and a specific quota for planning journeys.
General class tickets, usually bought shortly before travel, are not affected by the ARP changes.
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