Postal dept to ask railways to open ticket counters in post offices

"The railway ticket booking at Aska post office is functioning very well. We have given a proposal to the Railways to open such centers in other places in southern Orissa," Post Master General (PMG), Berhampur Region, S K Kamila said here today.

The proposed places were Berhampur, Bhanjanagar, Polasara and Gopalpur in Ganjam district, Phulabani in Kandhamal district, Boudh, Damanjodi in Koraput district, Khariar in Kalahandi district and Nabarangapur.

The decision would be taken after discussion with the Railways and the department of post, he said.

Railway ticket booking was now available in only two post offices in Orissa, the other being at Sundargarh.

The revenue collection from the Aska Head Post Office from sale of railway tickets, which was opened on September 11 was 'very satisfactory', he said.

The Department of Post provided the infrastructure and manpower while the railways gave the computer connecting to its server to run the center.

Despite e-ticket booking system available, every month on an average 2500 tickets were sold fetching a revenue of about Rs 25,000.

"The e-ticket booking system is for the elite. The general public who cannot go to a railway booking counter to book a ticket prefer to get it from post office," he said.

The postal department is getting a commission of Rs 15 and Rs 10 per ticket towards booking and cancellation charges respectively.