Northern Railway Proposes Doubling Tatkal Quota to Manage Diwali Festive Rush
Northern Railway is taking proactive steps to ease travel woes for lakhs of passengers planning to head home for the upcoming festival. The administration has officially submitted a proposal to the Railway Board to double the available Tatkal quota seats to handle the heavy passenger demand during the Diwali season. This initiative seeks to increase the number of Tatkal berths from the current 6,500 to over 12,000 for the duration of the festive period. Passengers struggling with long waitlists on high-demand routes can expect major relief once the plan gets the green light.
- Northern Railway proposes doubling Tatkal quota seats from 6,500 to over 12,000 for Diwali.
- The temporary arrangement focuses on high-traffic routes connecting Lucknow to Delhi, Mumbai, and Howrah.
- As of September 13, 2026, the proposal is pending official approval from the Railway Board.
- Diwali falls on November 8, 2026, with advance bookings already open since September 6 under the 60-day ARP rule.
Targeted Routes and Temporary Status
The proposed augmentation primarily targets high-traffic routes connecting Lucknow to Delhi, Mumbai, and Howrah, where waitlists for trains have grown significantly over the last few days. Passengers travelling along these busy corridors often face immense difficulties securing confirmed tickets during peak festival weeks. Railway authorities have clarified that this measure is intended to be a temporary arrangement, with seat allotments expected to revert to standard levels once the Diwali season concludes. As of September 13, 2026, the proposal is still pending official approval from the Railway Board.
Understanding Advance Bookings and Tatkal Timings
Indian Railways officially opened advance bookings for travel during the Diwali period, which falls on November 8, 2026, on September 6, 2026, under the 60-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP) rule. Due to extremely high demand, tickets on major routes have been selling out rapidly. While Northern Railway has already announced several special trains to accommodate the rush, the proposed increase in the Tatkal quota is seen as a crucial step to provide further relief to travellers.
For those relying on last-minute options, standard Tatkal bookings remain available one day prior to the journey. Travellers should note that booking slots open sharply at 10:00 AM for AC classes and 11:00 AM for non-AC classes. Rail users are advised to keep their IRCTC accounts updated and passenger details ready to secure seats smoothly during this peak festive season.