Is tatkal booking stressing you out? Keep these points in mind to book tickets within two minutes

Booking a Tatkal train ticket online is probably the most stressful activity for many, as the seat that you have blocked may be transferred to the waiting list by the time you make the payment. Due to its high demand, the first two minutes after the Tatkal booking window opens may overwhelm passengers. Moreover, you might likely be disappointed if you cannot book the ticket successfully. 

Tatkal is the Indian Railway’s special ticketing scheme that allows passengers to book tickets at short notice. So, hundreds of people would be logged in at the same time to book tickets at the last minute. But, you could successfully book Tatkal tickets if you know the rules well and move swiftly. 

The tatkal facility
The term tatkal means ‘instant’, so it is a booking scheme launched to help passengers who plan last-minute journeys. The tatkal ticket should be booked one day in advance, excluding the date of journey from the originating station. This facility is available in express and superfast trains only, not in local or passenger trains.

How to book tatkal
If your train starts from its originating station on October 25, then the tatkal booking starts at 10 am on October 24. The booking for the AC classes begins at 10 am, while Tatkal tickets for the sleeper classes could be booked from 11 am onwards. It is crucial to log in and provide the necessary details as swiftly as possible, as every second is valuable. Your chance to successfully book tatkal ticket goes down even if you delay by a few seconds. Tatkal booking to 1A, 2A, 3A, CC and EC air-conditioned classes starts at 10 am. Meanwhile, booking for non – AC classes like sleeper and 2S begins at 11 am. 

Here’s how to ensure seat
Tatkal ticket booking should be approached like a time–bound examination where every second counts. Good preparation is the easiest way to ensure a successful booking. You should log in to the IRCTC’s website before the stipulated time. Details like the name and age of the passenger and the destination should be ready. It would be helpful if these details were already on the master list. Try choosing faster payment methods like UPI, IRCTC e-wallet and net banking. 

Tatkal ticket rate
As tatkal tickets have been designed for urgent, last-minute journeys, they are more expensive than regular tickets. Meanwhile, premium tatkal tickets rates are quite on the steeper side. It would cost Rs 400 – 500 for 2A, Rs 300 – 400 for 3A, Rs 300 – 500 for CC/EC, Rs 100 – 200 for sleeper and Rs 10 – 20 for 2S, extra for booking tatkal tickets. Discounts are not applicable for tatkal tickets for elderly people. Besides, GST and convenience fees are higher than regular tickets. Meanwhile, the rate of the premium tatkal tickets is seasonal and could fluctuate. 

New tatkal rules
The Indian Railway has rolled out new rules and guidelines for making tatkal booking easier and efficient. Adhar linking and OTP are mandatory now. Agents cannot book tatkal tickets from 10 – 10.30 am for AC classes or sleeper class tickets from 11 – 11.30 am. Tatkal tickets are not available on the waiting list; passengers can only travel with confirmed Tatkal tickets. To avoid bulk booking, only one ticket could be booked using a single user ID in a train. 

Tatkal ticket
After successful payment, you will receive a virtual confirmation on the registered mobile number and an email on the registered email ID. Passengers can check the PNR on the websites and apps of IRCTC, Ixigo, Make My Trip, and Confirm Ticket. Refunds are not available for cancelling confirmed tatkal tickets. You will get a refund only if the Indian Railway cancels the train. 

Points to note
After logging in, do not allow the session to expire. It is better to use payment options like UPI and net banking for quick ticket fare payment. Entering the wrong CAPTCHA or making mistakes while entering the passenger details will significantly lower your chances of successfully booking Tatkal tickets.