Understanding VIKALP
For countless travelers across India, train journeys are an indispensable part of life, facilitating affordable and convenient long-distance travel, especially
for families and senior citizens. However, the perennial challenge of securing confirmed tickets, often necessitating bookings weeks in advance, can be a significant hurdle. While Tatkal bookings provide a last-minute avenue, their confirmation is never guaranteed, particularly during busy travel periods. The Indian Railways' VIKALP scheme emerges as a thoughtful initiative designed to alleviate this uncertainty for passengers holding waitlisted tickets. Essentially, VIKALP acts as a safety net, offering a chance to be accommodated on a different train running on the same route if vacant seats become available. This innovative option provides a crucial alternative, preventing travel plans from derailing due to unconfirmed tickets and ensuring that journeys can proceed as intended.
How to Opt-In
Activating the VIKALP scheme is a straightforward process that begins at the point of booking your train ticket. When you are making your reservation through the official IRCTC website or the mobile application, you will find a specific option labeled 'VIKALP'. It is imperative to select this option during the initial booking phase for it to be applicable. This scheme is exclusively for passengers with waitlisted tickets; it does not apply to confirmed or RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets. Once selected, eligible passengers might receive an allotment on an alternative train approximately 12 to 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure of their original train. In certain situations, passengers might even be offered the possibility of traveling a day or two later than their original plan, contingent upon seat availability and their willingness to accept such an arrangement.
Benefits and Conditions
The most significant advantage of the VIKALP scheme is the absence of any additional charges for a confirmed berth on an alternate train. If a passenger is reassigned to a different train and subsequently decides to cancel their journey, they are entitled to a refund in accordance with prevailing railway rules. However, it is crucial to understand that opting for VIKALP does not guarantee a confirmed ticket. The allotment of a seat on another train is entirely dependent on the availability of vacancies on those alternative services. Despite this, for those facing the prospect of a canceled trip due to a waitlisted ticket, VIKALP presents a practical, cost-effective, and reassuring alternative. It transforms the anxiety of an uncertain journey into a tangible possibility of confirmed travel, offering peace of mind and preserving travel plans.
