Train Ticket Booking: If you want confirmed train tickets on Diwali-Chhath, then use this Jugaad..

Every year, on festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath, lakhs of people prepare to go home by train. During this time, booking tickets on IRCTC becomes the most difficult task. People try months in advance, but it is still not easy to get a seat. This time the situation is even tougher, because the Railways has changed the rules of ticket booking (Indian Railways Train Ticket Booking). Earlier reservation was done up to 120 days in advance, but now tickets can be booked only 60 days in advance (Online Train Ticket Booking).

That is, if you want to travel on Diwali on October 20, then the booking window will open from August 20 itself. In such a situation, those who are late are now left with only Jugaad and the right tricks.

Advance Booking Rule of Railways

Railways has now reduced the limit of 120 days for ticket booking (Train Ticket Booking Online) to 60 days. That is, you have to be alert on time. On the day the booking opens, 60 days before your travel date, it is necessary to log in and get the ticket on the same day in the morning. If you are unable to get the ticket during this time, then only the Tatkal Ticket Booking option will remain, which is expensive and also has more risk.

How to increase the chances of seat confirmation in ticket booking?

To book a ticket, it is necessary to be ready a few minutes before by logging on to the IRCTC site or app. As soon as the booking window opens, keep a balance in the IRCTC wallet to make an immediate payment so that there is no problem of payment failure.

Benefit of the Alternate Trains option
IRCTC has now given the option of 'Alternate Trains'. Suppose you have to go from Delhi to Bihar, but the seat in the direct train is full, then the Alternate Trains feature will automatically show you the option of another route or a break journey. As you can see, the option of Delhi to Patna and then from Patna to the nearest station to your home. With this kind of break journey, you can get confirmed tickets without much hassle.

More than 12,000 festival special trains, up to 20% discount on round-trip booking
This time, the railways have run more than 12,000 festival special trains. More seats will be available in trains like Delhi-Gaya, Chhapra-Delhi, and Muzaffarpur-Hyderabad. The option of these special trains will also be available on the IRCTC site. Apart from this, you can also get up to 20% return fare discount on a trip booking.

What to do if the ticket is waitlisted?
Often during festivals, the ticket goes into the waitlisted tickets. In such a situation, keep checking your PNR status again and again. Many times, the ticket gets confirmed due to a minute cancellation (Waiting Train Ticket Confirmation Chances). If you have an RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) ticket, then at least you get a chance to travel in it.

Getting a confirmed train ticket during the festive season is definitely a tension, but if you book on time, make proper use of alternate trains and keep an eye on festival special trains, you can get a seat without any hassle.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Zee Business. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.