New IRCTC Train Ticket Booking Rules! Indian Railways Changes Advance Booking Rules – Check Here – Times of India

New Indian Railways Train Ticket Booking Rules: Indian Railways has changed its rules for advance booking of train tickets. Sources told TOI that passengers will now be able to book IRCTC train tickets only 60 days before the scheduled departure of the train, compared to the current advance booking period of 120 days.
The new Indian Railways rule will come into effect from November 1, 2024, sources told TOI. It is important to note that the new rules for pre-booking train tickets will not affect tickets already booked. The sources added that the changes have been made keeping in mind that people can book tickets and plan travel much earlier, but in case of cancellation of trains, passengers face problems.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways is making significant strides in incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its systems and processes. The organization has already implemented AI-enabled cameras to monitor the quality of bedding and food, and now it has implemented an AI-powered model to optimize train occupancy. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnau, “One Al model we used to check train occupancy resulted in over 30% increase in the percentage of confirmed tickets.”
The AI ​​model works by analyzing data and predicting seat availability after the reservation table is prepared four hours before the train’s departure. This allows the system to more efficiently allocate seats to passengers on the waiting list. Vaishnaw told ET, “The AI ​​model can study data and predict seat availability, leading to greater confirmations.” Railways have moved away from the traditional approach of allocating seats evenly at a station and are now using AI to identify stations with higher demand and adjust the allocation accordingly.
In addition to improving seating allocation, Indian Railways has also installed AI-based cameras in its kitchens to monitor cleanliness and detect unusual behaviour. A pilot project in Pune achieved 100% verification of laundered sheets using AI-trained cameras, a significant improvement from the previous verification of 2% through sample checks. “Customer satisfaction has gone up 100% in this area,” noted Vaishnaw.