Railway Ministry Revamps Emergency Quota Request Timings

The Indian Railway Ministry has recently revised its protocols for emergency quota requests, aiming to enhance the efficiency of train operations by requiring that reservation charts be prepared eight hours before train departures.

According to a circular issued Tuesday, requests for emergency quotas for trains departing between midnight and 2 PM must be submitted by noon the previous day. For those leaving between 2:01 PM and 11:59 PM, the cut-off time is 4 PM. This move intends to alleviate the chaos that comes with last-minute preparations.

The ministry advised that all requests made on the day of travel would be discarded, adding a stipulation for Sunday or public holiday departures: requests should still be submitted during office hours on the prior working day. The circular highlights that careful prioritization of requests, often received from VIPs and senior officials, is necessary to maintain operational integrity. The ministry emphasized adherence to these timelines to prevent operational difficulties and potential train delays.

(With inputs from agencies.)