Railways offer alternate train accommodation to passengers

New Delhi, May 23: To help passengers using reserved accommodation, railways today extended alternative train accommodation system for five major routes connecting Howrah, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Secunderabad from here.

The facility named as Vikalp offers passengers booked under the scheme will be given an option for getting alternate accommodation in another train if they do not get confirmed berths in the trains of their choice.

Under the scheme, waitlisted passengers can give choice to opt for Vikalp facility to get confirmed berths in alternate trains if they are getting waitlisted ticket in the train of their choice.

Vikalp scheme was announced in the budget and so we are implementing it, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said at Mumbai.

The scheme is implemented only on Mail/Express & Superfast trains and not applicable in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.

Once a vikalp passenger has been allotted alternate accommodation, journey modification will not be permitted.

No extra charges are taken from passenger or any refund is provided for difference of fare. The Vikalp facility is being extended to Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Bangalore and Delhi-Secunderabad routes.

Currently the Vikalp is already implemented in Delhi-Jammua nd Delhi-Lucknow sectors.

PTI