Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav also said that Railways issues waiting list tickets so that the seats left vacant after cancellation of reservation can be fully utilized. Moreover, the waiting list helps the Railways to assess the demand pattern better.
The Vikalp scheme of Indian Railways is proving to be a useful option for the passengers, especially the passengers troubled by the waiting list. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said in the Rajya Sabha that during the financial year 2023-24, 57,209 passengers were given seats in alternative trains under the Vikalp scheme. The scheme was launched in 2016 to provide confirmed seats to waitlisted passengers and ensure maximum utilization of available seats.
Railway Minister replied
The Railway Minister gave this information in response to the questions of Nationalist Congress Party member Fauzia Khan. Fauzia Khan questioned the government about the success rate of the Vikalp scheme and its expansion on high-demand routes. The Railway Minister said that this scheme is applicable at all India level and under this, only those passengers who have opted for Vikalp scheme at the time of ticket booking get the benefit.
What is this option scheme?
Optham Scheme, an IRCTC initiative, provides passengers with seats in alternative trains running on the same route if they do not get a confirmed seat in their original train. Although this does not guarantee a seat, it increases the chances of getting a confirmed ticket. While booking the ticket, if a passenger gets a waiting list ticket then he can opt for the Vikalp scheme. If a seat is available in any other train under the Vikalp scheme, the passenger is informed.
Railways takes care of this
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav also said that Railways issues waiting list tickets so that the seats left vacant after cancellation of reservation can be fully utilized. Moreover, the waiting list helps in better assessing the demand pattern of the Railways. He said that Indian Railways regularly monitors the waiting list status. To provide maximum convenience to the passengers, Railways also runs special trains during festivals and holidays to meet the needs of additional passengers.
How will passengers benefit?
Through Vikalp Yojana, passengers can travel in another train as an additional option. This facility is very beneficial for those passengers who have to travel urgently. Apart from this, this scheme also helps Railways to make better use of vacant seats. Providing seats under the Vikalp scheme to 57,209 passengers in the financial year 2023-24 shows the success of the scheme. Indian Railways is continuously working on such schemes to provide better services to the passengers and make the travel experience easier. The objective of the scheme is to reduce the problem of waiting list and to give passengers options for travel. Its expansion on high demand routes is likely to benefit more passengers in the future.
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