The Railways on Tuesday decided to give preference to waitlisted passengers under the Tatkal scheme in the event that additional coaches are added.
To clear the extra rush of passengers, Railways have introduced many summer specials as well as adding extra coaches in trains.
“If an extra coach is added to a particular train, then preference would be given to waitlisted Tatkal ticket-holders before those waitlisted in other classes,” a senior Railway Ministry official said.
It's a pity that the railways have opted to a choice that promotes unplanned travelers rather than the planned ones. It also implies that Railways is shying away from doing a true management of resources, i.e. additional coaches. Because unless a system works on the demand side data- it is no system. Tatkal passengers appear on stage only a day before the travel date. Any allocation to them only can be an emergency measure, and hence an arbitrary and non-justiciable.
They appear to cater to the tatkal travelers only because of the higher fare collected. While doing so they are unlikely to be answerable to real demands of regular wait-listed travelers. Although from the initial offer of extra bogies one would assume their care for regular travelers. (Although it would be meaningful to have access to a reasoned statement from Railways in this regard)
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