Online Booking of FTR : The Ministry of Railways has streamlined the process for booking special trains and coaches at Full Tariff Rates (FTR). Previously managed through various manual processes, all such bookings are now consolidated under a single-window online system managed by the Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC).
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Key Operational Guidelines
- Booking Entity: Individuals, parties, or government agencies must approach IRCTC to place an indent. Manual booking through UTS is no longer permitted.
- Facilitation Charges: IRCTC levies a 5% facilitation charge on the total fare for coordination work.
- Timeline: Registration must be done at least one month in advance and no more than six months before the journey.
- Security Deposit: A revolving deposit (minimum ₹5 lakh per Zonal Railway) must be maintained by IRCTC in an e-wallet/RDS system. IRCTC may collect up to ₹50,000 per coach as a security deposit from the party.
Fare and Composition Rules
- Minimum Distance: 500 km for outward and return journeys separately (200 km for hill stations).
- Minimum Composition: A minimum of 18 coaches is required for special trains. If fewer coaches are used, the difference is charged at the Second Class (Unreserved) Mail/Express base fare.
- Service Charge: A 30% service charge is levied on the base fare.
- Detention Charges: Levied at ₹900 per hour (or part thereof) per coach, with a minimum of ₹1,500 per coach.
Deadline and Refunds
- Payment Deadline: Full payment must be made 48 hours before departure.
- Countermanding: Failure to pay results in a ₹50,000 per coach penalty.
- Refunds: After the journey, IRCTC must submit the original folder/receipts to the Zonal Railway within 30 days to process refunds or settle excess demands.
Cancellation
- 2 days or more in advance: 10% of the security deposit (10% of per Coach 50,000) is forfeited.
- 1 day in advance (excluding journey day) to 4 hours before departure: 25% of the chargeable fare.
- Within 4 hours of departure or later: 50% of the chargeable fare.
- Unfeasible/Railway Cancellation: If the request is unfeasible or cancelled by the Railways, the full deposit is refunded.
- Modification: Only one-time date change is permitted, not beyond 10 days from the original date.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Which organization is the single-window provider for FTR bookings?
- A) CRIS
- B) IRCTC ✅
- C) Zonal Railways
- D) Railway Board
- What is the facilitation charge levied by IRCTC for FTR bookings?
- A) 2%
- B) 3%
- C) 5% ✅
- D) 10%
- What is the minimum advance notice required for an FTR registration?
- A) 15 days
- B) One month ✅
- C) Three months
- D) Six months
- What is the maximum period in advance a journey can be booked?
- A) 3 months
- B) 6 months ✅
- C) 9 months
- D) 12 months
- What is the minimum revolving security deposit IRCTC must maintain per Zonal Railway?
- A) ₹1 lakh
- B) ₹2 lakh
- C) ₹5 lakh ✅
- D) ₹10 lakh
- What is the maximum security deposit IRCTC can collect from a party per coach?
- A) ₹10,000
- B) ₹25,000
- C) ₹50,000 ✅
- D) ₹1,00,000
- What is the minimum distance for charging a special train (non-hill station)?
- A) 200 km
- B) 300 km
- C) 500 km ✅
- D) 1000 km
- For hill stations, what is the minimum distance for charging?
- A) 100 km
- B) 200 km ✅
- C) 300 km
- D) 500 km
- What is the minimum composition of coaches required for a special train?
- A) 10 coaches
- B) 15 coaches
- C) 18 coaches ✅
- D) 22 coaches
- If a special train runs with 16 coaches, for how many coaches will the fare be realized?
- A) 16
- B) 17
- C) 18 ✅
- D) 20
- Coaches falling short of the minimum composition are charged at which rate?
- A) Sleeper Class
- B) 3AC
- C) Second Class (Unreserved) Mail/Express ✅
- D) No charge is applied
- What percentage is the service charge levied on the base fare?
- A) 10%
- B) 20%
- C) 30% ✅
- D) 35%
- Which charge is NOT levied separately for FTR bookings?
- A) Superfast Surcharge
- B) GST
- C) Reservation charge ✅
- D) Mela Surcharge
- What is the minimum haulage distance for empty haulage charges?
- A) 100 km
- B) 150 km
- C) 200 km ✅
- D) 500 km
- What is the per-kilometer rate for a Dining Car/Pantry Car?
- A) ₹50
- B) ₹75
- C) ₹85 ✅
- D) ₹100
- How much is the detention charge per hour per coach?
- A) ₹500
- B) ₹900 ✅
- C) ₹1,200
- D) ₹1,500
- What is the minimum detention charge per coach?
- A) ₹900
- B) ₹1,000
- C) ₹1,500 ✅
- D) ₹2,000
- How many special free halts are permitted for every 1000 km of journey?
- A) 1
- B) 2 ✅
- C) 3
- D) 5
- What is the maximum duration for a special free halt?
- A) 10 minutes
- B) 15 minutes
- C) 20 minutes ✅
- D) 30 minutes
- What is the cost of an additional paid halt (up to 2 minutes)?
- A) ₹10,000
- B) ₹20,000
- C) ₹25,000 ✅
- D) ₹50,000
- Is any concession allowed for children or senior citizens on FTR bookings?
- A) 50% for children
- B) 40% for senior citizens
- C) No concession allowed ✅
- D) 25% for students
- When must all charges be paid in full before departure?
- A) 24 hours
- B) 48 hours ✅
- C) 72 hours
- D) 7 days
- What is the cancellation charge if a journey is cancelled within 4 hours of departure?
- A) 10%
- B) 25%
- C) 50% ✅
- D) 100%
- Within how many days must IRCTC deposit the tour folder for a refund?
- A) 7 days
- B) 15 days
- C) 30 days ✅
- D) 60 days
- What percentage of last-minute passenger changes are allowed by the Station Master due to illness?
- A) 5%
- B) 10% ✅
- C) 15%
- D) 20%
