New Delhi: The Railways have decided to hike the 'Tatkal charges' payable by passengers undertaking train journey at short notice from November 14, railway sources said on Thursday (Oct 28, 2004).

The two-month non-peak period (July 15 to September 15) and 10 month peak period have also been introduced, the sources said adding that the 2nd AC peak period charges would be Rs 300 per passenger as against the present Rs 200, a hike of 50 per cent.

The charges for travel in 3rd AC would also be Rs 300,doubled from the present Rs 150, for AC Chair Car and Sleeper Class the charges have been hiked to Rs 150 each from the present Rs 50 in each class during the peak period.

The non-peak period charges are Rs 200 each passenger in 2nd AC and 3rd AC and Rs 75 per passenger in AC Chair Car and Sleeper Classes.

The Tatkal facility of reservation would not be available in First Class-AC and non-AC.

The railways have also decided to discontinue with the practice of attaching coaches designated as 'Tatkal Coach' in various trains, including the prestigious Rajdhani Expresses and Shatabdi Expresses.

Instead there will be Tatkal quota in 2nd AC, 3rd AC, AC Chair Car and Sleeper Class coaches in each train.

Four berths in each 2nd AC coach, six berths seats each in 3rd AC and AC Chair Car and 10 per cent of the accommodation in each Sleeper Class coach (which has around 72 berths) has been earmarked for Tatkal passengers from November 14.

The provision of passenger having reserved seat under the Tatkal quota carrying the Identity Card during the journey has been deleted on an experimental basis for six months after which it will be reviewed, the sources said.

Though the changes, including the hike in charges, were approved at a meeting of chief commercial managers in New Delhi on August 28 this year, the new provisions would be applicable in trains from November 15 since reservation in Indian Railway can be done 60 days in advance.

The railways have made changes in the computerized passenger reservation system (CPRS) all over the country to earmark the seats in the four defined classes for booking of seats in the trains, the sources said.

The Tatkal reservation facility will not be available to passengers wishing to travel on some concession, no change of name will be permitted, reservation under this scheme will be available only up to the time of preparation of reservation charts and booking will be done only from originating to terminating point of the train with boarding facility from intermediate station.