Train Reservation: With effect from 10 October 2020 (Saturday), Indian Railways will restore the earlier system of preparation of second reservation charts! Now, the national transporter will prepare the second reservation charts 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of trains from railway stations. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the system was modified to two hours for the last few months. According to a press release issued by the Railway Ministry, the first reservation chart was prepared at least four hours before the train’s scheduled departure as per established pre COVID-19 lockdown instructions. Thereafter, passengers could book the available accommodation on a first-come-first-serve basis through PRS counters and the internet until the preparation of second reservation charts.
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Before the lockdown, Indian Railways used to prepare the second reservation charts between 30 minutes to 5 minutes before the train’s scheduled or rescheduled time of departure. As per provisions of refund rules, cancellation of already booked train tickets was also allowed during this period. But due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, instructions were issued to shift the time of preparation of the second reservation chart to two hours instead of 30 minutes before the scheduled or rescheduled time of departure of trains from the railway station.
The decision to prepare a second reservation chart at least 30 minutes before the train’s departure was taken as per the request of zonal railways for ensuring the convenience of railway passengers, the Railway Ministry stated. Thus, the facility of Indian Railways ticket booking, through PRS ticket counters and online, shall be available for passengers accordingly, before the preparation of the second chart. To restore this provision with effect from 10 October 2020, necessary modifications have been issued to CRIS in the software, the ministry added.
Here are 5 things to know about Railways reservation chart timings:
- From October 10, the second reservation charts will be issued 30 minutes before the scheduled train departure time, as was done before the lockdown.
- Ticket booking facility, both online and on ticket counters, shall be available, before the preparation of the second chart.
- Before the lockdown, the first reservation chart was prepared at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of train. Thereafter, the available accommodation could be booked across PRS counters as well as through the internet on a first-come-first-serve basis until the preparation of second reservation charts.
- Second reservation charts were prepared between 30 minutes to 5 minutes before scheduled/rescheduled time of departure of trains.
- Cancellation of already booked tickets was also permitted during this period as per the provisions of refund rules. Ticket booking facility, both online and on PRS ticket counters, shall be available, before the preparation of second chart.
Mean-while, India detected 72,049 cases and 986 deaths due to Covid-19 in the 24 hours ending 9 am Wednesday. This takes the country’s tally to 67,57,132, including 9,07,883 active cases, 57,44,694 recoveries and 1,04,555 deaths.
The Union Health Ministry Monday said nearly 50 percent of the deaths due to Covid-19 in India were concentrated in 25 districts in eight states. Of this, 15 districts were in Maharashtra. Addressing the press, Union Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said India had the highest number of recoveries from the disease, at over 56 lakh, and has also conducted the second-highest number of tests, at 8.10 crore. Active Covid-19 cases have been below 10 lakh for the last two weeks, while the recovery rate has improved to 84 percent, he added.
Ten states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, account for 77 percent of the active cases in the country.
Globally, over 35.7 million people have been infected with the disease while more than one million have succumbed. More than 24 million people have recovered.
