The Ministry of Railways has revised Tatkal charges with effect from October 1.
According to the latest notification, the Railway Board has done away with the scheme of peak period and non-peak period charges, levying a uniform charge for all seasons. The ticket would be issued for the actual distance of travel doing away with the end-to-end distance.
The notification claimed that it had reduced the Tatkal charges introducing a new scheme where the charges would be levied as a percentage of the fare. The minimum rate would be 10 per cent of the basic fare for second class and 30 per cent of basic fare for all other classes subject to the specified minimum and maximum charges for each class.
The minimum charge for second class (sitting) is Rs. 10 and the maximum will be Rs. 15, for sleeper class and AC chair char the minimum has been fixed at Rs. 75 and the maximum at Rs. 150, while for AC III and AC II tier classes the minimum will be Rs. 200 with the maximum being Rs. 300.
The Railways have also decided to introduce the Tatkal facility in the Executive Class of Shatabdi Express trains as well earmarking 10 per cent of the accommodation available.
The Tatkal rates will be the same as applicable in the case of AC class accommodation.
Second class (sitting) passengers benefit the most as the minimum is Rs. 15 and that will be reduced to Rs. 10. With respect to the other classes they would continue to pay the prevailing minimum rate. But depending upon the distance they might end up paying more. The real benefit for passengers seeking to travel in sleeper class and higher class is that they would be saving on the basic fares of the ticket. They need to pay only for the actual distance they travel, instead of the entire route.
