Good news for railway passengers. Today we are going to discuss Indian Railways VIKALP Yojana. Yes you’ve heard it right. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that over 57,200 passengers were accommodated in another train under the ‘Vikalp’ scheme during the financial year 2023-24. In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, he explained that the ‘Vikalp’ scheme, which started in 2016, aims to provide alternative train options for passengers on waiting lists and to make the best use of available seats.
Eligible passengers get confirmed accommodation
Vaishnaw mentioned that the Vikalp scheme ensures confirmed seats in alternate trains for eligible passengers who choose this option. He noted that around 57,209 passengers were given seats in alternate trains during the financial year 2023-24, addressing inquiries from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Fauzia Khan.
He had asked about the success of the Vikalp scheme and any plans to expand it on popular routes.
Railways also runs special trains during peak times
The Railway Minister added that waitlisted tickets are issued in reserved categories to fill vacant seats from cancellations, helping the Railways understand demand trends. He stated that the waitlist status for all trains is regularly monitored. He says, “To continuously provide more accommodation, Indian Railways operates special train services during festivals and holidays to meet the increased passenger demand.”
In 2024, for instance, 13,523 special train trips were made to handle the extra rush during Holi and summer vacations. Additionally, to meet the demand during Durga Puja, Deepawali, and Chhath, 7,990 special train trips were conducted from October 1 to November 30, 2024, serving around 1.8 crore passengers.
