Introduction of premium tatkal quota with dynamic pricing a success: Railways
In some cases, the ticket rates doubled under the system that was introduced to cash in on the festive rush this month and eliminate touts, who were observed to be charging a premium in the peak season.
The system came into effect on October 3.
“The fares have risen by 100 per cent over the past few days because of the festive rush,” a Western Railway official said. “On non-peak days, people can find vacant berths four to five hours before departure.”
Tatkal bookings open a day in advance, at 10 am at booking offices and on e-ticketing websites.
On WR, nine trains follow the system and on CR, five trains.
“Trains like Howrah Mail, Mahanagari Express, Dadar-Chennai Express have seen 100% increase in fare,” a CR official said.”
In Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, the fares for II and III tier AC touched Rs 7,200 and Rs 6,000 in the festive rush. Borivli resident Rajesh Vyas said passengers did not benefit much with the system as touts were still doing brisk business, but Kandivli resident Anjali Menon said it was a good move.
The Indian Railways’ introduction of the Premium Tatkal quota with dynamic pricing has been described as a success by the authorities. Here’s a summary of what this means and why it’s considered successful:
🔍 What is Premium Tatkal with Dynamic Pricing?
- Premium Tatkal (PT) is a special quota introduced by Indian Railways for last-minute travelers.
- Unlike the regular Tatkal scheme, PT uses dynamic pricing—ticket prices increase based on demand and availability, similar to airline fare models.
- It usually applies to high-demand trains and routes.
✅ Why is it Considered a Success?
- Increased Revenue: Dynamic pricing has significantly boosted ticket revenue by charging higher fares during peak demand periods.
- Efficient Utilization: Better seat management and reduced last-minute cancellations.
- Reduced Black Marketing: With higher transparency and less room for agent manipulation, illegal ticket sales have declined.
- Catering to Urgency: Passengers needing urgent travel are willing to pay more, and the system accommodates this demand effectively.
📊 Impact Overview:
- Higher Occupancy Rates on trains using the PT system.
- Better Financial Performance for the Railways.
- Likely expansion of the system to more routes based on demand trends.
If you want, I can provide specific data or analyze how this pricing model compares to others like airline or ride-hailing surge models.
