- To help passengers using reserved accommodation, railways extended alternative train accommodation system for five major routes on 23 May. The routes include Howrah, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Secunderabad from Delhi.
- The facility named Vikalp would offer the passengers booked under the scheme the option to get alternate accommodation in another train if they do not get confirmed berths in the trains of their choice. Currently it has been implemented in Delhi-Jammu and Delhi-Lucknow sectors.
- Vikalp scheme was announced as part of the budget. The scheme has been implemented only in Mail/Express and Superfast trains and is 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 would be taken from passenger and no refund would be provided for difference of fare.
(With agency inputs.)
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