The timings for booking Tatkal tickets in AC and non-AC classes have been changed effective from June 15 to reduce the load on the ticketing website and booking windows.
Under the revised timings, for AC classes, the booking under Tatkal scheme will open at 10 a.m. and for non-AC classes, it will start at 11 a.m.on the previous day of journey.
The change has been effected to ease out the process of booking by reducing the load on the server. A senior Railway official told a news agency, “Staggering the timing for AC and non-AC Tatkal tickets will help reducing load at windows and the ticketing sites.”
“In another change, all types of ticketing agents, including IRCTC agents, will now be debarred from booking tickets for 30 minutes from the opening of bookings – from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. for general bookings, from 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. for Tatkal AC classes, and from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. for Tatkal non-AC classes,” the Railways further said.
According to reports, the Railways is also planning to refund a percentage of fare on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets.