irctc new rules

Booking of coach and trains on Full Tariff Rates (FTR) – Catering Services

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

Commercial circular No. 19 of 2023

No. TC-II/2033/2006/Policy2

New Delhi, Dated 07.09.2023

Principal Chief commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

The Managing Director,
IRCTC/ Barakhamba Road
New Delhi.

Sub: Booking of coach(es) / trains on Full Tariff Rates (FTR) – Catering Services.

REF: 1. Relevant Provisions of IRCA Coaching Tariff Part 1 (Vol 1)

2. Commercial Circular no. 08 of 2018 dated 05.02.2018
3. Commercial Circular no. 14 of 2018 dated 15.02.2018
4. Commercial Circular no. 26 of 2018 dated 07.05.2018
5. Commercial Circular no. 28 of 2018 dated 16.05.2018
6. Commercial Circular no. 36 of 2018 dated 05.07.2018
7. Commercial Circular no. 01 of 2022 dated 11.01.2022
8. Other letters/ instructions issued from time to time.

In continuation of above instructions, Ministry of Railways has decided that catering facilities in all coaches / trains etc. booked on FTR shall be arranged by IRCTC. Party will book catering facilities in such Special coaches / trains etc. through IRCTC only, except for booking of FTR trains along with Pantry Car.

In case of booking of full train on FTR including a pantry car coach, booking party may either avail the catering facilities through IRCTC or provide the catering facilities using the pantry strictly in terms of the existing instructions of Tourism & Catering directorate issue vide letter No. 2017/TG-III/645/02 Pt-I dated 23/08/2022 (copy enclosed) and other instructions issued from time to time.

Parties booking FTR trains including pantry coaches will be supplied with such pantries which have flameless cooking facility only. In case of non-availability of ICF pantry cars with flameless cooking facility, LHB rakes will be supplied for the FTR train bookings where pantry has been demanded. In case of no availability of flameless pantry, no pantry car will be provided and catering services will be mandatory through IRCTC.

In the FTR booking module, functionality to upload passenger manifest is to be developed by CRIS and IRCTC to ensure uploading it 24 hrs before the scheduled departure. There would be no allotment of VPU/VPH for third party FTR trains booked by private parties.

At originating station of FTR party coaches / trains, Security / Railway staff must make mandatory check for inflammables.

The booking party will ensure that the de-boarding and boarding of passengers is done as per the tour programme submitted by them to ensure platform facility to the passengers.

Further, while giving operational feasibility for en-route halts, it shall be ensured that a platform/ siding is available for boarding/ deboarding as well as stabling the coach.

Regular drives by IRCTC / Railway officials to check compliance of extant guidelines should be done.

The above instructions would be applicable on all future bookings including the bookings where the journey is yet to commence.

Necessary action may be taken in this regard.

(Rohit Kumar)
Jt Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board

(Sumeet Singh)
Director TC(G) as Director T&C
Railway Board

(Vipin Kumar Singh)
Director Coaching
Railway Board

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

No. 2017/TG-III/645/02 Pt-I

The Principal Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

New Delhi, dated: 23/08/2022

Sub:- Flameless cooking in pantry cars of trains booked under FTR.

Ref:- Board’s letter of even no. dated 02.06.2022.

With reference to Board’s letter mentioned above, it is clarified that there is no restriction on flameless cooking in pantry cars of trains including those booked under FTR subject to strict compliance of all fire safety related protocols.

(A. RANGARAJAN)
Dy. Director / Catering
Railway Board

SOURCE: https://indianrailways.gov.in/

Review of STBA (Station Ticket Booking Agent) scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

No. 2018/TG-I/20/P/STBA

New Delhi, dated 18.08.2023

Principal Chief Commercial Mangers,
All zonal Railways.

(Commercial Circular No. 15 of 2023)

Sub: Review of STBA (Station Ticket Booking Agent) scheme.

Ref: Commercial Circulars no. 04 of 2022 and 03 of 2023.

Presently, STBAs can be engaged at NSG-4 and SG-3 category stations on pilot basis till 21.08.2023.

2. Extension of the said pilot scheme is under consideration in Board’s office. After careful examination, Competent Authority have now decided to extend the currency of the scheme for another period of one year i.e. till 21.08.2024.

2.1 Zonal Railways shall make concerted efforts to bring down dependency on STBA and to encourage proliferation of ATVMs and UTSONMOBILE app to bring unreserved ticketing more into the digital ambit.

2.2 Further, feasibility for appointment of JTBS shall also be explored to minimize commission outgo to STBAs.

2.3 Zonal Railways may ensure to furnish quarterly feedback on performance of the pilot scheme during this extended currency.

2.4 All other terms and conditions of CC no. 04 of 2022 shall be followed scrupulously.

3. Necessary instructions may be issued to all concerned accordingly for strict compliance.
4. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

(Sanjay Manocha)
Director Passenger Marketing-II
Railway Board

Source: indianrailways.gov.in

Revised Composition of Station Consultative Committees (SCO)-Indian Railway

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

No. 2023/TG-I/30/SCC/P

New Delhi, dated 30.08.2023

The General Managers,
All Zonal Railways

(Commercial Circular No. 17 of 2023)

Sub: Revised Composition of Station Consultative Committees (SCO).

Ref: Instructions issued vide no.
i. 2002/TG-I/24/P dated 13.05.2002
ii. 92/TG-I/30/1 dated 12.02.1992
iii. 87/TG-I/30/1 dated 19.12.1988

Instructions have been issued from time-to time vide above references inter- alia for constitution of Station Consultative Committees at zonal Railways.

2. With a view to secure better representation of Railway Users and affording more frequent opportunities for consultation between Railway Administration and users on matters relating to the services / amenities provided by Railways at grass root level and means of improving the efficiency of such services / amenities, in supersession of previous instructions on Station Consultative Committee, it has been decided to reconstitute Station Consultative Committees as per the guidelines enclosed as Annexure to this letter.
3. It is desired that necessary instructions may be issued to all concerned to constitute Station Consultative Committees as above.

(Neeraj Sharma)
Executive Director Passenger Marketing,
Railway Board

CONSTITUTION OF STATION CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES

With a view to secure better representation of Railway Users and affording more frequent opportunities for consultation between Railway Administration and users on matters relating to the services / amenities provided by Railways at grass root level and means of improving the efficiency of such services / amenities, it has been decided to expand the scope of Station Consultative Committees as under:-

i. Station Consultative Committees (SCC) shall be set up at all category stations.

ii. The total number of members to be nominated on SCC shall normally not exceed the limit of 11, 9 & 7 members at NSG-1, NSG-2 & NSG-3 category stations respectively and 5 at NSG-4, NSG-5 & NSG-6 category stations. At SG-1, SG-2 & SG-3 category stations, the total number of members to be nominated shall not exceed the limit of 11, 9 and 7 members respectively.

iii. The Committee shall consist of representatives from different fields including those mentioned below subject to the maximum limit prescribed for each category of station:-

• Chambers of Commerce;
• Local Trade and Industry;
• Local educational institutions;
• Local self-Government bodies;
• Eminent persons of the Area and general public

iv. SCC shall be constituted with the approval of Divisional Railway Manager concerned.

v. Meetings of SCC shall be chaired by Station Director / Station Manager / Station Superintendent / Station Master of the station, who will also be convener of the meeting.

vi. Senior Section Engineers (SSEs) of various departments e.g. Electrical, Mechanical, Civil etc. or any other official can be co-opted in the SCC.

vii. The tenure of the Station Consultative Committee shall be for two calendar years unless otherwise notified.

viii. Three meetings of SCC of each category of station shall normally be held in a year.

ix. The nature of these committees shall be consultative in character.

x. Persons holding assignments of profit connected with Railways e.g. catering and vending contractors, Out Agency contractors, handling contractors, engineering contractors, Rail Travellers Service Agents and State / Central Government Servant etc. are debarred from the membership of the SCC.

xi. Persons with conflict of interest and involved in litigation with Railways are also debarred from the membership of this committee.

SOURCE: indianrailways.gov.in

Refund Of Cancelled Tickets

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2271
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

REFUND OF CANCELLED TICKETS

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any alternate plans for the passengers of mail and express trains who have to travel by sitting near the toilet door on waiting ticket, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the reasons for issuing so many waiting list tickets by the Indian Railways, if it does not have the capacity to confirm the same;

(c) whether after the automatic cancellation of an online ticket, often the money for the online waiting ticket is not refunded unless a complaint is registered through the customer care, if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether many a times money gets deducted from the account while booking a ticket online but the ticket is not booked and that money is refunded only after a week;

(e) if so, the options available to the passengers if they have limited money and the journey is unavoidable; and

(f) the reasons for discontinuing a special bogie for the Indian Army in the trains?

ANSWER: MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2271 BY SHRI VIJAY KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.08.2023 REGARDING REFUND OF CANCELLED TICKETS.

(a) & (b): On Indian Railways, occupancy pattern of trains is not uniform throughout the year and it varies over lean and peak periods. During peak rush periods, the occupancy of the trains especially on popular routes remains full whereas during lean period and on less popular routes, there is sub optimal utilization. Waiting list tickets are issued to take care of reserved accommodation going vacant against cancellation of confirmed accommodation, avoid chances of passengers being turned away by booking clerks on account of accommodation being exhausted and to help Railways to assess the demand pattern. Waiting list position of the trains running on Indian Railways is monitored on regular basis and to cater to additional demand, load of existing trains are augmented, special trains are run, new trains are introduced, frequency of existing trains is increased etc. subject to operational feasibility.

(c): As soon as the ticket, in which status of all the passengers is on waiting list at the time of preparation of first reservation charts, is automatically cancelled, auto refund is initiated and refund is advised to the bank on the next day.

(d): If money is debited and ticket is not booked, automatic refund process is initiated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on the following day. Refund amount is advised to the Payment Gateway / bank through which booking amount was received. Normally bank takes time to process refund as per the following mode of transaction-

• For Net banking / Wallet / Cash Card transaction 3-4 business days.
• For Credit card / Debit card transaction 6-7 business days.

(e): Passenger can avail Book Now Pay Later option available in Mobile App and EMI option available in the website as payment option.

(f): Instructions already available on this account have been reiterated to all zonal Railways that expeditious clearance of police, paramilitary and armed forces should be ensured by attaching additional coach / coaches to trains and / or by earmarking train service second class coach(es), subject to feasibility, so long as they hold valid travel authority.

Refund Of Cancelled Tickets in Lok Sabha Q & A In PDF Download – Click Here

Stop Printing of Reservation Charts: Railway Board

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

No.2023/TG-I/20/P/PRS Ticket(e-file)

New Delhi, dated 15.06.2023

Principal Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

Sub: Discontinuation of printing of reservation charts.

Ref: Letter no. 1-RTA/O/Policy/Charting/07 dated 30.05.2023

Pasting of reservation charts on reserved coaches of trains was discontinued as per instructions issued vide Commercial Circular no. 44 of 2018. Further, zonal Railways were also advised to stop displaying physical reservation charts at those platforms where electronic charts were being displayed.

2. Recently, a reference has been received from one of the Zonal Railways advising that with the proliferation of Hand Held Terminals (HHT), the utility of printing reservation charts has reduced drastically. It has, therefore, been suggested that the activity of printing reservation charts may be dispensed with barring few exceptions.

3. The matter has been examined in this office and it has been decided as under:-

i. At those locations where HHTs have been provided, zonal Railways shall be competent to take a decision regarding necessity of printing of first reservation charts to be provided to onboard ticket checking staff.

ii. Zonal Railways may continue to print second reservation charts, if necessary.

iii. Further, in case printing is deemed necessary the Railways should also examine the feasibility of printing only single copy of reservation chart and the record copy to be saved in digital form.

Necessary instructions may be issued to all concerned accordingly.

(Sanjay Manocha)
Director Passenger Marketing-II
Ph. No.:011-23047367
4th Floor, Room No: 415-A
Railway Board

Source: digitalscr.in

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Discontinuation of pasting of reservation charts on train coaches

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2013/TG-I/20/P/PRS Ticket Pt.II

New Delhi, Dated: 15.02.2018

The Principal Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

(COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO. 10 OF 2018)

Sub: Discontinuation of pasting of reservation charts on train coaches.

The issue regarding pasting of reservation chart on reserved railway coaches was examined and instructions were issued to discontinue pasting of reservation charts on the reserved coaches of all trains at New Delhi, hazrat Nizamuddin, Bombay Central, Chennai Central, Howrah and Sealdah stations of Indian Railways on experimental pilot basis for a period of three months.

2. Based on the feedback received from these Railways, it has been decided that Zonal Railways should discontinue pasting of reservation charts on reserved coaches of trains at all erstwhile A1, A & B category of stations as a pilot project for six months starting from 01.03.2018. Physical/digital charts will, however, continue to be displayed at the platforms of the train. At those stations where electronic chart display plasma have been installed and the same are functioning properly, Zonal Railways may stop displaying of physical reservation charts at such platforms also, making this process totally paperless. A constant vigil should, however, be kept at such platforms to ensure that electronic charts display are functioning properly and in case of their non¬functioning immediate action should be taken to display physical charts at such platforms. Feedback on this account should be sent to this office three months after the starting of pilot project along with detailed comments, to enable final decision being taken regarding implementation of this scheme across all stations.

3. Necessary action may be issued to all concerned accordingly and compliance reported to this office.

sd/-
(Shelly Srivastava)
Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board

Click Here to the Original Order

Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in