According to the proposal, the base price of the AC Ist class ticket will be offered at a price equal to AC 2nd class fare of that particular train.

Similarly, the reserve price for 2AC ticket will be equal to the AC 3-Tier fare and sleeper class rate will be applicable for 3AC fare.

To begin with, only 10 to 20 per cent seats on selected trains are likely to be offered for bidding on the internet.

The auction is expected to open 48 hours before the departure time and closed two hours before the scheduled departure.

However, the scheme will not be applicable to 514 pairs of trains categorised as popular trains.

All Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains except Ajmer Shatabdi and Chennai-Bangalore Shatabdi Express are also exempted from the scheme.

"Trains with less than 60 per cent occupancy rate are considered unpopular and only those train tickets will be available for the auction," said the official. Railways expect that occupancy rate of some of its unpopular trains will go up through the auction system.

"We are launching a commercial portal and passenger interface and the auctioning facility will be part of it," said the official.

The portal will also have all customer related information including train position, timing, availability and fares.

"Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is providing the software for the portal and tenders are being invited for it," said the official.