Indian Railways: For those who frequently travel by train using a general ticket (unreserved ticket), recent developments are of significant importance. The Indian Railways is set to implement changes to the rules governing general ticket bookings, which will directly affect your travel experience.
Criteria for general ticket booking
The criteria for general ticket booking may soon be revised, with the new system requiring that the name of the train be specified on the general ticket. Consequently, passengers will be restricted to traveling only on the designated train, as tickets will no longer be valid for alternate trains. Additionally, the validity period for a general ticket will be limited to just three hours.
If a passenger does not commence their journey within this timeframe, the ticket will become invalid. This decision follows recent incidents of overcrowding and stampedes at New Delhi Railway Station, prompting the railways to enforce stricter regulations.
Selection of train
Passengers will need to be mindful of their train selection prior to booking their tickets, as the option to change trains may be eliminated. These measures aim to reduce unnecessary crowding and enhance the safety and smoothness of travel.
The rules at present
Currently, under the unreserved ticket system (UTS) of Indian Railways, passengers can purchase general tickets at the station’s ticket counter or via the UTS mobile application. These tickets are typically valid based on the date and route of travel, allowing passengers to board any train along the same route, provided the ticket remains valid. Presently, the validity of a general ticket ranges from three to twenty-four hours, depending on the travel distance and the specific railway zone.