Policy instructions and Pass Quotas in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains

Railway Board Letter No
98/TG.I/9/P dated 29.3.2001
Date
Circular Subject
Policy instructions regarding Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains

(Commercial Circular No.16 of 2001)

 

      Please refer tod this office letter of even number dated 7.6.2000 (Commercial Circular No.30 of 2000) wherein the policy instructions regarding travel by Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains have been issued. After issue of these instructions certain changes have staken place which include permitting school passes issued to railway employees in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains, Silver Pass holders to avail one extra berth for eligible family members in first AC of Rajdhani Express trains on payment of one third difference of fare between IAC and 2AC fare of Rajdhani Express train, permittidng serving officers with pay Rs.22,400/- and above and retired officers of equivalent status to avail one seat in EC in Shatabdi Express trains without payment of any fare etc.  Accordingly the instructions issued vide Commercial Circular No.30 of 2000 dated 7.6.2000 have been modified and the revised instructions incorporating these and other changes are enclosed for information and necessary action.

-----------

 

Policy instructions regarding Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains.

 

1             Whenever a Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express train is introduced on Zonal Railways, the allotment of reservation quota in that train will be done by Zonal Railways themselves.

 

Whenever any Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express train is given new stoppage, the allotment of quota in that case will also be done by Zonal Railways.

 

1.            Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains are inter-city trains connecting major cities.  The passengers in these trains should be booked:-

 

End-to-end, i.e., from originating station to destination station against general quota.

 

From intermediate stations to destination station to the extent of quota earmarked at intermediate stations.

 

From originating station to intermediate stations tos the extent of quota earmarked for that intermediate station.

 

To meet the demand of the passengers from intermediate station to intermediate stations, railway should conduct a survey to assess the requirements and earmarka fixed quota, if necessary, against which booking from intermediate stations to intermediate stations will be done on first-come-first-served basis.

 

2.            In order to have uniformity, various quotas will be deined in different coaches as under:

 

Type of Quotas

Class

Rajdhani Express trains        

3AC

2AC

1AC

EQ, Defence, PHBO, FT & Duty Pass Quota

AS-3

1-A

H-1

Roadside quota

AS-4

A-2

H-1

Shatabdi Express Trains

CC

 

EC

EQ, Defence, PHBO, FT & Duty Pass Quota

C-3

 

H-1

Roadside quota

C-4

 

H-1

                         

3.            Separate waiting-list for destination and intermediate stations

 

Separate waiting lists should be maintained for each intermediate stations and destination stations. The booking in these trains for intermediate stations should be done tos the extent of quota earmarked for these stations and thereafter passengers be put on the waiting list. The limit of waiting list for intermediate stations should be decided by the railway themselves.

 

 

4.            Procedure for allotment of vacant accommodation at the time of preparation of charts at the originating station.

 

In case berths/seats are available for the terminating/intermediate stations at the time of preparation of charts, the same should be released in favour of passengers on the waiting list in order of distance from starting station i.e. for the passengers on the waiting list for the farthest point will be cleared first and so on.  This allotment should be done only at the time of preparation of charts and should be included in the chart preparation programme itself.  For example, in case the accommodation in 2952 Rajdhani Express is available for BCT, it will be allotted to wait-listed passengers of Baroda, Ratlam, Kota in this order.  Similarly, if the accommodation is available for Baroda,d the same will be released to wait-listed passenger for Ratlam, Kota in the same order.  While permitting such passengers from intermediate stations, the train staff will first allow them as per their priority in waiting list and thereafter on first come-first served basis.

 

5.            Procedure to be followed at the originating station for allotment of vacant accommodation available after preparation of charts.

 

(a)        At the current counter

 

i.                 If the current counter is located far away from the platform from where the train is scheduled to leave,d the reserved accommodation vacant after the preparation of charts should be allotted by the staff manning the current reservation counter on first-come-first-served basis irrespective of destination upto 45 minutes before the scheduled/rescheduled departure time of the trains. Thereafter the charts would be taken to the platform booth.

 

ii.                In case the train is scheduled to leave from a platform which can be accessed by the passengers (at current counter) within 5 minutesm, the tickets will continue to be issued from the same current counter upto 5 minutes before the scheduled departure of trains.

 

iii.              In case,s there is a waiting list and the reserved accommodation is cancelled at the current counter, the staff manning this counter will update the position of the wait-listed passengers.

 

(b)      At platform booth of originating station

           In case the trains are scheduled to depart from the platforms which are located sufficiently away from the current counter, the charts would be taken to the platform booth 45 minutes before the departure of the train and platform booth should be properly manned. The Zonal Railways may evolve a suitable method for issuing of tickets at these booths.

 

6.            (a) At originating station

 

At originating stations, the train staff will not permit any passenger to board the train unless he is havisng confirmed/RAC ticket. Even in case where the vacant accommodation is available the TS/Dy.TS will not permit any passenger to board the train at train originating station. The reason is that the passenger should purchase the ticket at the current counter/platform booth before boarding the train.  In case, any passenger boards the train without proper reservation, he/she will be excess charged as per the instructions contained in Para No.8 below.

 

(b)   At stations enroute

 

In case the accommodation is available in the train, the Train Supdt./Dy.Train Supdt. would grant permission to board the passengers from enroute stations.  Such permission may be given by such train staff to the extent of vacant accommodation available, first as per waiting list priority and rest if any, on first-come-first-served basis irrespective of the destination.

 

7.            Charging of passengers travelling without tickets or holding wait-listed tickets:

 

(i)              The persons who are holding wait-listed tickets or without ticket are not authorised to board these trains:

 

(ii)             The passengers boarding the train with wait-listed tickets at the originating and intermediate station will be excess charged single fare upto the point he is possessing the ticket whether accommodation is available or not.  However, in case of passengers, who have been permitted by the TS/Dy.TS Staff from the intermediate stations to the extent of vacant accommodation available, no penalty will be realized from these passengers.

 

(iii)           Passenger boarding the train without a ticket will be excess charged fare equal tosd the double of the fare up tod the destination of the train whether accommodation is available or not.  An endorsement should be made on the ticket that such passengers will be detrained at the first stoppage of the train in case of no accommodation being available in the train;

 

(iv)           The wait-listed passengers who board the train withsout the permission of TS/Dy.TS staff, will be excess charged and if accommodation is available, wait-listed passengers will be allotted accommodation as per dpriority in waiting list and thereafter on first-come-first served basis.

 

NOTE:  The wait-listed child/children below the age of 12 years travelling alongwithd their family/party on a partially confirmed ticket are permitted to board Rajdhani Express train and shall not be treated as travelling without ticket.  However, the maximum number of children permitted to travel with the party/family should be limited to the number of confirmed berths.  This facility should not be given in case of adudlt passengers are on RAC i.e. no berth is allotted to them.  Such child/children will share the accommodation with the party/family and will not be given any separate bedroll.  However, catering would be provided to such wait-listed child/children. This clause shall not be applicable in Shatabdi Express Trains.

 

8.            No refund will be admissible for the un-travelled portion. To guard against any malpractices, the ticket of a passenger who is either accommodated on the train for the entire/partial journey or detrained enroute, must invariably be endorsed to this effect.

 

9.            Where in a group/party/family booked on a single ticket, some persons get confirmed reservation while others remain on the waiting list, if the entire ticket is surrendered for cancellation at the journey commencing station within 4 hours before scheduled departure of the train and up to 3 hours after its actual departure, only clerkage charges will be retained for all the passengers.

However, if the passengers with confirmed reservation intend tosd travel, but those on waiting list want to cancel their ticket, the wait-listed passengers can get their ticket cancelled and refund will be granted to such passengers after deduction of clerkage charges.

 

 

P A R T – II

10.         The railway officials will be allowed to travel in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains within the quota earmarked for Duty Pass holders in these trains. The details of quota allotted in various Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains in different classes is given in Annexure - I & II.

 

11.         The following kinds of passes only are allowed in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains:-

 

(i)             Railway servants:-

 

(a)          Duty (including transfer pass), Privilege (including settlement pass) & post-retirement complementary passes issued to Railway servants.

(b)          Widow passes

(c)           Medical passes.

(d)          School Passes issued to wards of railway employees.

 

(ii)           Duty passes issued to GRP officials and food Inspectors within the jurisdiction mentioned in the pass are valid for travel in Pantry Card/non-passenger area in the train.

 

(iii)          Other pass holders:-

 

(a)          Gold pass/complimentary cheque passes issued to serving MR/MOS®/DMR.

(b)          Complimentary card passes issued to ex.MR/MOS®/DMR.

(c)           Complimentary Card passes issued to ex.Andaman Political prisoners under category of Freedom Fighters.

(d)          Any other complimentary card/cheque pass containing specific endorsement validating travel by Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains.

Unless a specific endorsement is made on the pass, no other kind of Card/Cheque pass is permitted in the Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains.

 

12.         The entitlement of railway officials travelling on duty & on privilege and post-retirement complimentary passes in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains are as under:-

 

(A)         Entitlement of travel on duty by Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express:

Status

Rajdhani Express

Shatabdi Express

 

i) Gold Pass holder

First AC coupe or four berths in 2 AC

Four Seats in Executive Class/Chair Car.

ii) Silver Pass holders

One berth in first AC for self and one extra berth for the eligible family members on payment of one third of difference of fare between Ist AC and 2 AC of Rajdhani Express trains

                          OR

Two berths in 2-AC or Four berths in 3 AC

Two seats in Executive Class or four seats in Chair Car.

iii) Metal & First 'A' Pass holders (Pay Rs.14,300/- & Above.

One berth in Ist AC or 2 berths in 2 AC or 4 berths in 3 AC.

Two seats in Executive Class or four seats in Chair Car.

iv) Metal & First 'A' pass holders (Pay less than Rs.14,300/-)

One berth in 2 AC or two berths in 3 AC.

Two seats in AC Chair Car.

v) First Class pass holders

One berth in 3 AC

One seat in AC Chair Car.

 

Note:

 

(i)            Gold pass holders are entitled to coupe accommodation even whend travelling alone and can also take their family members in the coupe in Rajdhani Express trains.

 

(ii)          The serving officers who were drawing pay of Rs.4500/- and above ins the IVth CPC scale of pay and were entitled to one berth in Ist AC/two berths in 2AC/four berths in 3 AC in Rajdhani Express and two seats in Executive Class/Four seats in Chair Car in Shatabdi Express during the period 1.1.1996 to 31.1.1999 will continue to get the same entitlement even if their pay in the revised scale of pay falls short of Rs.14,300/-.

 

(iii)         The serving officers who were drawing pay of Rs.4500/- and above in the IVth CPC scale of pay and retired officers of equivalent status who were entitled tod two berths in 2 AC or four berths in 3 AC or two seats in chair car on each privilege or post retirement complimentary pass prior tod revision of scale under Vth CPC, would continue tod get the same entitlement even if their pay in revised pay scale falls short of Rs.14,300/-.

 

(B)         Entitlement to travel on each privilege and post-retirement complimentary pass.

Status

Rajdhani Express

Shatabdi Express

i) Retired and serving Board Members

Two berths in IAC or two berths in 2 AC or four berths in 3 AC

Two seats in Executive Class sor two seats in Chair Car.

ii) Serving Officers with pay Rs.22,400/- and above and retired officers of equivalent status.

One berths in first AC (on payment of one third of difference of fare between Ist AC and 2 AC of Rajdhani Express trains) or Two berths in 2 AC or Four berths in 3 AC.

One seat in Executive Class or two seats in Chair Car.

iii) Serving officers with pay Rs.14,300/- and above and retired officers of equivalent status.

Two berths in 2 AC or 4 berths in 3 AC.

Two seats in Chair Car

iv) Serving officers with pay below 14,300/- and retired officers of equivalent status and other serving and retired First Class pass holders.

One berth in 2 AC or two berths in 3 AC

Two seats in AC Chair Car.

 

NOTE:-

 

(i)            In the case of serving Chairman and Members of the Railway Board travelling on their own privilege passes, the facility to travel in 1st AC of all trains including Rajdhani Express and in Executive Class of Shatabdi Express, without payment of any difference in fares will be admissible not only to themselves and their spouses, but to all members of the family who are entitled to travel on privilege passes, subject tod the maximum of two berths in 1st AC or two seats in the Executive Class.s This facility will be available even if the Chairman/Members is not travelling along withs them.  Spouses of retired Chairman/Members of the Railway Board travelling alaone on their post retirement complimentary passes would also be entitled to the facility of travel in 1st AC and Executive Class, without payment of any difference in fares.

 

(ii)          For the purpose of item B(ii) of para 13 above, the equivalent status of retired Railway employees will be as follows:

 

Officers who retired between 1.7.59 - 31.12.72 with a basic pay of Rs.3000/- and above/officers who retired between 1.1.73 - 31.12.85 with a basic pay of Rs.3000/- and above/officers who retired between 1.1.86 - 31.12.95 with a basic pay of Rs.7300/- and above.

 

(iii)         For the purpose of item B-(iii) of para 13 above, the equivalent status will be as follows:

 

Officers who retired between 1.7.59 - 31.12.72 with a basic pay of Rs.1880/- and above/officers who retired between 1.1.73 - 31.12.85 with a basic pay of Rs.1980/- and above/officers who retired between 1.1.86 - 31.12.95 with a basic pay of Rs.4500/- and above.

 

(iv)         For the purpose of item B-(iv) of para 13 above, the equivalent status will be as follows:

Officers who retired between 1.7.59 - 31.12.72 with a basic pay below Rs.1880/- officers who retired between 1.1.73 - 31.12.85 with a basic pay below Rs.1980/- and officers who retired between 1.1.86 - 31.12.95 with a basic pay below Rs.4500/-.

 

13.         The procedure for allotment of accommodation in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains to Railway Pass Holders will be as under:-

 

(i)            In AC 3 tier and Chair Car classes, 50% of the quota earmarked for Duty pass holders will be operated at the counter and the remaining 50% will be operated as the Emergency quota. The quota earmarked at the counter will be utilized on first-come-first-served-basis.  Once the quota earmarked at the counter gets exhausted, waiting list tickets will be issued without any limit.  In AC-2 tier and AC Ist of Rajdhani Express trains and Executive Class of Shatabdi Express trains, only waiting list tickets will be issued without any waiting list limit.  The waiting list so prescribed will be separate waiting list apart from the normal waiting list.

 

(ii)          At the time of release of Emergency Quota in these trains against Duty/Privilege/Post Retirement Complimentary passes and PTOs, PNR No. will be insisted upon.  However, in exceptional cases when it is impossible to gbet a waiting list ticket issued against Duty /Privilege/complimentary passes/PTOs, Emergency quota can be released on the authority of these passes/PTOs itself, with a specific approval of an officer to be nominated by Zonal Railways in this regard.

 

(iii)         The unutilized quota earmarked for Duty/Privilege/Post retirement complimentary pass/PTO holders in these trains will be released to waiting list passengers in general waiting list.

 

(iv)         Preference shall be given to Duty Pass holders ins the Pass quota being operated as Emergency Quota.

 

(v)          In case the berths/seats are available at the originating/intermediate stations after preparation of charts, the vacant accommodation may be allotted at current counters/trains to duty/privilege/post retirement complimentary pass and PTO holders out of general quota on first-come-first-served basis irrespective of destination.

 

(vi)         Privilege Ticket Orders issued to railway officials are valid as per the entitlement of the officials to travel in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains on payment of usual PTO fare subject to restrictions applicable for passes.

 

(vii)        The travel facilities for Indian Railway personnel over Konkan railway on privilege, Duty Pass and PTOs are governed byd the instructions issued vide letter No.E(W)97/PS5-1/62 dated 11.1.1999 and 9.4.1999 respectively the copies of which are enclosed at Annexure-III & IV.

 

(viii)      In no case, Pass holder/PTO holder will be allowed to book berths available for normal passengers, before preparation of chart.

 

14.         Separate Second class cheque passes being issued tod the attendant of railway officers under rule (xix) of Railway Servants (Pass) Rules 1986-Schedule-II(Pass on Privilege Account) will also be issued if the Railway servant is travelling by Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains.

 

15.         In order to make the system fool proof and to facilitate both Pass/PTO holders as well as the Reservation Clerks to know the correct number of berths/seats as asper entitlement, Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) have decided the requisite number of rubber stamps may be made which will indicate the entitlement of class/scale of accommodation of the railway official in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains. This stamp should be affixed compulsorily by the pass issuing authority on the Pass/PTO at the time of issuing Pass/PTO. This stamp should also have a space for the initials of the pass issuing authority to take care of the fraudulent stamps being put on the Pass or PTO.  This system will ensure easy exercise of the checks by the ioperator at the time of booking.  In order to ensure strict compliance of this provision. railways should take necessary action and see that no Pass/PTO is issued after 30.4.2001 without rubber stamp as prescribed above.

 

16.         Members of Parliament and ex. Members of Parliament:

 

In addition to the passes mentioned in para 12 above, the following are also authorised to travel by Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains:-

 

 

(i)            MPs and their companion travelling on the authority of the Identity Card-cum-Railway Pass.

(ii)          Spouses of MPs travelling on Spouse Pass along with M.P.

(iii)         Ex. MPs travelling on the authority of identity card issued by Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariats.

 

Accommodation will be allotted to them first out of PHBO quota, if any, and then against general quota.

 

17.         These instructions should be brought to the notice of all concerned.

 

18.         This issues withd the concurrence of Commercial, Establishment and Finance Directorates of the Ministry of Railways.

                                                                     ----------

   ANNEXURE-I

Duty/Privilege and post-retirement complimentary Pass quota by Rajdhani Express trains

S.No.

Train No./Destination

    Quota

 

 

 

-----------

1AC

Quota

 

 

 

-------------

2AC

Quota

 

 

 

----------

3 AC

Quota to be operated in 3 AC

---------

On counter

Quota to be operated in 3 AC

----------

As EQ

1.

2301 Howrah - New Delhi Rajdhani Express (Via Gaya)

4

12

24

12

12

2.

2302 New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express (via Gaya)

4

12

24

12

12

3.

2305 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (Via Patna)

4

12

24

12

12

4.

2306 New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express (Via Patna)

4

12

24

12

12

5.

2309 Patna-New Delhi Rajdhani Express

4

 6

16

 8

 8

6.

2310 New Delhi-Patna Rajdhani Express

4

 8

16

 8

 8

7.

2421 Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express

2 BBS

2 HWH

2 BBS

6 HWH

4BBS

16HWH

2BBS

8HWH

2 BBS

8HWH

8.

2422 New Delhi Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Exp.

2 Upto BBS

2 Upto

HWH

2 Upto

   BBS

6 upto

   HWH

20

10

2 Upto         BBS

8 Upto HWH

9.

2423 Guwahati- New Delhi Rajdhani Express

4

8

20

10

10

10.

2424 New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express

4

8

20

10

10

11.

2423-A Dibrugarh- New Delhi Rajdhani Express

4

10

22

10

12

12

2424 A New Delhi-Dibrugargh Rajdhani Express

4

10

22

10

12

13

2425 New Delhi- Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express

2

8

16

8

8

14

2426 Jammu Tawi - New Delhi Rajdhani Express

4

8

16

8

8

15.

2429 Bangalore - H.Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express

2

6

8

4

4

16.

2430 H.Nizamuddin -Bangalore Rajdhani Express

2 Upto SBC

2 Upto SC

6 Upto SBC

6 Upto SC

8 Upto SBC

8 Upto SC

4 Upto SBC

4 Upto SC

4 Upto SBC

4 Upto SC

17.

2431 Trivandrum-H.Nizamuddin Rajdhani Exp.

4

8

12

6

6

18.

2432 H. Nizamuddin- Trivandrum Rajdhani Exp.

2

6

6

-

6

19.

2433 Chennai- H.Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express

2

4

8

4

4

20.

2434 H.Nizamuddin-Chennai Rajdhani Express

2

4

10

4

6

21.

2435 Guwahati-New Delhi Rajdhani Express

4

6

20

10

10

22.

2436 New Delhi- Guwahati Rajdhani Express

2

4

8

4

4

23.

2437 Secunderabad -New Delhi Rajdhani Express

2

4

8

4

4

24

2438 New Delhi- Secunderabad Rajdhani Express

4

6

16

8

8

25

2951 Mumbai Central- New Delhi Rajdhani Express

4

12

24

12

12

26

2952 New Delhi- Mumbai Central

 Rajdhani Express

4

12

24

12

12

27.

2953 Mumbai Central-NZM A.K.Rajdhani Express

4

12

24

12

12

28

2954 NZM-Mumbai Central A.K.Rajdhani Express

4

8

27

15

12

29

2957 Ahmedabad- New Delhi Rajdhani Express

2

4

 

6

 

30.

2958 New Delhi- Ahmedabad Rajdhani Express

2

6

8

4

4

 

   ANNEXURE-II

Duty/Privilege and post-retirement Complimentary Pass quota by Shatabdi Express trains.

 

S.No.

Train No./Destination

Quota

-------------------

EC

Quota

----------

CC

Quota to be operated in AC Chair Car

---------------

On Counter

Quota to be operated in AC Chair Car

----------------

As EQ

1.

2001 Bhopal-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

-

22

4                 BPL

5                AGC

4             BPL

5             AGC

2.

2002 Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

6

21

11

10

3.

2003 Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

       LKO

4          CNB

22

4             LKO

5             CNB

3             LKO

6          CNB

4.

2004 New Delhi - Lucknow Shatabdi Express

6

22

11

11

5.

2005 New Delhi- Kalka Shatabdi Express

6

20

10

10

6.

2006 Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

6

20

10

10

7.

2007 Chennai-Mysore Shatabdi Express

-

22

11

11

8.

2008 Mysore-Chennai Shatabdi Express

-

22

11

11

9.

2009 Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express

4

22

11

11

10.

2010 Ahmedabad-Mumbai Shatabdi Express

4

22

5-ADI

6-BRC

11

11.

2011 New Delhi-Chandigarh Shatabdi Express

6

20

10

11

12.

2012 Chandigarh-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

6

20

10

10

13.

2013 New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express

6

24

12

12

14.

2014 Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

6

24

12

12

15

2015 New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express

6

15

10

10

16.

2016 Ajmer-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

6

20

5-AIII

5 JP

10

17.

2017 New Delhi-Dehradun Shatabdi Express

6

22

11

11

18.

2018 Dehradun-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

6

22

11

11

19.

2019 Howrah-Bokaro Steel City Shatabdi Express

-

15

5

10

20.

2020 Bokaro Steel City-Howrah Shatabdi Express

-

15

5

10

21.

2021 Howrah-Rourkela Shatabdi Express

TRAIN CANCELLED

 

 

 

22.

2022 Rourkela-Howrah Shatabdi Express

Train Cancelled

 

 

 

23.

2023 Chennai-Boimbatore Shatabdi Express

-

15

10

5

24.

2024 Coimbatore-Chennai Shatabdi Express

-

15

10

5

25.

2027 Mumbai-Pune Shatabdi Express

-

8

4

4

26.

2028 Mumbai Shatabdi Express

-

8

4

4

27.

2029 New Delhi -Amritsar Shatabdi Express

4

20

10

10

28.

2030 Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

4

20

10

10

29.

2031 New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express

4

24

12

12

30.

2032 Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express

4

24

12

12