New Delhi, 1 November, 2024: Indian Railways has introduced a major update to its ticket booking policy, cutting the advance reservation period (ARP) from 120 days to 60 days, effective November 1. Announced through a circular to passengers on October 16, this change aims to address the rising trend of “no-shows” and support genuine travelers during the winter and festive seasons.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), approximately 21% of reservations made between 61 and 120 days before travel were eventually canceled, while around 5% of passengers neither canceled nor traveled. This trend, officials say, has impacted planning and prompted the policy revision. A PIB spokesperson noted that “the updated policy will help Indian Railways manage demand and organize special trains more efficiently during peak times.”
Under the revised rule, passengers can no longer secure bookings three months or more in advance, though those with reservations already made for this period will not be affected. However, the 365-day ARP for foreign tourists remains unchanged.
Indian Railways last altered the ARP in 2015, and prior to 1998, passengers could only reserve tickets up to 30 days in advance. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), handling ticketing for rail journeys, now serves 66 million registered users, processing an average of 731,000 tickets daily as of December 2023. This shift in reservation policy is seen as a move to better align with current passenger habits and the increasing uncertainty in travel plans.
