The Indian Railways advance booking period for train tickets has been reduced from 120 days to 60 days. Starting November 1, 2024, passengers will only be able to book tickets 60 days before the train’s scheduled departure. This change reduces the previous booking window by half, which earlier allowed bookings 120 days in advance.
Impact of the New Indian Railways Advance Booking Rule
The change will not apply to certain day-time express trains such as Taj Express and Gomti Express. These trains already have shorter booking periods. Additionally, the rule for foreign tourists remains the same, allowing them to book tickets up to 365 days in advance.
If a passenger has already booked a ticket before November 1, 2024, this new rule will not affect those bookings.
Indian Railways Targets and Passenger Growth
Indian Railways aims to carry 7.5 billion passengers in the 2024-25 financial year, which is a 9% increase compared to the previous year. With these revised booking rules, the railways hopes to streamline operations and improve efficiency in ticket management.
AI Use by IRCTC to Improve Booking Efficiency
The Indian Railways is using artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize seat allocations. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, one AI model has helped increase the rate of confirmed tickets by more than 30%.
Traditionally, seat allocations at each station ensure that passengers from various stops can get tickets. With AI, the system now identifies stations with higher demand and reallocates seats accordingly. This approach enhances ticket availability for high-demand routes and reduces unused seats.
The IRCTC also adjusts seat availability based on real-time demand. For example, the reservation chart is finalized four hours before a train departs, and the AI system reassigns seats expected to be vacant.
The Indian Railways advance booking change reflects an ongoing effort to modernize its ticketing process and better manage passenger demand.
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