Indian Railways: New Boarding Rules To Make Seat Allocation More Systematic & Transparent

Travellers, note this. Indian Railways is set to introduce significant changes in its boarding rules. These new rules will impact millions of passengers. It is very important that you know them before you start planning your next train trip. Scroll down to know what the new rules are.

Indian Railways Announces New Rules 

According to a report by The Live Nagpur, Indian Railways has announced new rules, especially for its boarding system. Under the new system, a passenger must board the train at their designated railway station. If the passenger fails to do so, the ticket examiner (TTE) will no longer wait until the next station.

As soon as the train departs from the boarding station, and the passenger is not found in their seat, the berth will be marked vacant by the TTE. During checks, the TTE will mark the ‘not turned up’ entry on the handheld device. This will confirm that the passenger did not board at the station mentioned on their ticket.

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Vacant Seats Will Be Allocated Instantly 

As per a report by The Live Nagpur, once the ‘not turned up’ entry is made, the system will automatically release the seat. The TTE will not be able to hold it for the passenger anymore. This rule is expected to benefit many passengers travelling on waiting list and Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets. Once the seat is recorded as vacant, it will be immediately allocated to the next eligible traveller on the waiting list. 

The passenger will receive instant confirmation via SMS on their registered mobile number. To implement these changes, the Ministry of Railways has asked the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to carry out the required software upgrades. Once these upgrades are complete, the new system will be rolled out on trains across India. This system will ensure more efficient and transparent seat management.

Reportedly, railway data indicates that around 3-5% of passengers on every train either cancel their journey or fail to reach their boarding station on time. Under the new system, such passengers will need to be more careful. If any passenger plans to board from a station other than the one mentioned on their ticket, they must change it at least 24 hours before chart preparation.

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This system will definitely make seat allocation fully transparent. It will also reduce complaints related to vacant seats on trains. What do you think of this new change announced by Indian Railways? Do share your thoughts with us.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ PG-1973 (Representative Image)