<p>It’s not that the travel agents in the city are ruling the roost only at the reservation counters in the Capital when it comes to booking railway tickets under the Tatkal scheme.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The nexus is spread across the country with touts in Delhi managing Tatkal tickets by booking them at ‘convenient counters’ in other cities and getting them delivered in the city at appropriate time by courier service, and at time even by flight.<br /><br />“We have our connections in the railways in the capital as well. But at times when the railway vigilance department becomes active, we manage to book tickets from other cities. <br /><br />The tickets are then brought to the Capital by several means like courier, through trains and at times even by flight,” a travel agent operating from Paharganj near New Delhi railway station said.<br /><br />The agent however said such tickets are booked only when a passenger demands a ticket for a train which is scheduled to leave in the evening.<br /><br />“Tatkal tickets could be booked one day earlier. Tickets for such trains are booked at counters from other cities which are an overnight journey away from the Capital. Tickets are either couriered or given to our men (read staff members of pantry cars) who deliver the ticket to us,” the travel agent added.<br /><br />Though the agent refused to name cities, he hinted at places like Patna, Hajipur and Lucknow. <br /><br />Recently, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also busted a racket in Mumbai which confirmed tickets were booked under the Tatkal scheme by touts in Bihar and then couriered to Mumbai by air. <br /><br />Three persons were arrested in separate instances by a special squad formed by the Central Railway RPF. The racket originated at Patna and Hajipur in Bihar. <br /><br />Over 600 touts held<br /><br />Northern Railway officials said over 600 people have been booked this summer during the anti-touting drives launched at frequent intervals. During intensive checks against touts, unauthorised travel agents and passengers travelling on transferred tickets purchased from such agencies were found.<br /><br />“During the period, 648 touts were apprehended under section 143/144 of Railways Act 1989. During the period checks were also carried out on trains and 1,502 persons were detected travelling on tickets reserved in the name of other (fictitious) persons. <br /><br />Apart from that, 23 unauthorised travel agents were apprehended under section 143 of the Railway Act and prosecuted,” said a Northern Railway official. <br /><br />The officials said action has also been initiated against over 200 railway staff. “Over 800 checks were conducted against railway staff deployed in mass contact areas, especially at PRS centres. As a result of which action against 219 staff is being initiated,” the official said.<br /></p>
<p>It’s not that the travel agents in the city are ruling the roost only at the reservation counters in the Capital when it comes to booking railway tickets under the Tatkal scheme.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The nexus is spread across the country with touts in Delhi managing Tatkal tickets by booking them at ‘convenient counters’ in other cities and getting them delivered in the city at appropriate time by courier service, and at time even by flight.<br /><br />“We have our connections in the railways in the capital as well. But at times when the railway vigilance department becomes active, we manage to book tickets from other cities. <br /><br />The tickets are then brought to the Capital by several means like courier, through trains and at times even by flight,” a travel agent operating from Paharganj near New Delhi railway station said.<br /><br />The agent however said such tickets are booked only when a passenger demands a ticket for a train which is scheduled to leave in the evening.<br /><br />“Tatkal tickets could be booked one day earlier. Tickets for such trains are booked at counters from other cities which are an overnight journey away from the Capital. Tickets are either couriered or given to our men (read staff members of pantry cars) who deliver the ticket to us,” the travel agent added.<br /><br />Though the agent refused to name cities, he hinted at places like Patna, Hajipur and Lucknow. <br /><br />Recently, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also busted a racket in Mumbai which confirmed tickets were booked under the Tatkal scheme by touts in Bihar and then couriered to Mumbai by air. <br /><br />Three persons were arrested in separate instances by a special squad formed by the Central Railway RPF. The racket originated at Patna and Hajipur in Bihar. <br /><br />Over 600 touts held<br /><br />Northern Railway officials said over 600 people have been booked this summer during the anti-touting drives launched at frequent intervals. During intensive checks against touts, unauthorised travel agents and passengers travelling on transferred tickets purchased from such agencies were found.<br /><br />“During the period, 648 touts were apprehended under section 143/144 of Railways Act 1989. During the period checks were also carried out on trains and 1,502 persons were detected travelling on tickets reserved in the name of other (fictitious) persons. <br /><br />Apart from that, 23 unauthorised travel agents were apprehended under section 143 of the Railway Act and prosecuted,” said a Northern Railway official. <br /><br />The officials said action has also been initiated against over 200 railway staff. “Over 800 checks were conducted against railway staff deployed in mass contact areas, especially at PRS centres. As a result of which action against 219 staff is being initiated,” the official said.<br /></p>
