Rly tightens noose around touts, illegal ticket agents

 In order to ensure quality service to the growing volume of passengers during the ensuing festival season, the railway authorities are planning a slew of measures to curb malpractices, especially in purchase of reserved rail tickets.

Apart from announcing several festival special trains, the railway authorities have decided to deploy staff members at the reservation counters to check touting.

“Staff members would be posted near windows outside reservation counters at all locations during the period on all days, including Sundays and other holidays to counter-sign reservation requisition forms before they are submitted to the reservation clerk,” Northern Railway CPRO, Neeraj Sharma said.

“The staff members would ensure that passengers provide complete address and phone numbers on the form,” said Sharma. 

The officials said the initiative is aimed at preventing bulk booking done by the touts on fictitious names ahead of the festive season.

Taking advantage of the festival rush, the agents then sell the reserved tickets at a higher rate to the passengers.

The officials are also making random calls to numbers provided on the requisiton forms.
“The vigilance department calls on the numbers provided on requisition forms, especially those seeking reservation for 3-4 people and above,” a Northern Railway official said.       
“The officers seek detail from the person, who responds to the call, about the people for whom tickets are being booked. If the person fails to give satisfactory answer, the tickets are being cancelled,” official added.

Efforts are also being taken to curb malpractice of confirming tickets through the VIP quota from the railway headquarter.

“The vigilance department is seeking details from the passengers in the train itself, about the person through which they got their ticket confirmed through the headquarter to ensure transparency,” an official said.

Complaints of some railway employees working in collusion with the touts to confirm the waiting list tickets through headquarter quota have also been reported.  

Other arrangements about frequent announcements regarding special trains, increase in number of trains and the passenger reservation system will also be put in place so that rail passengers derive utmost benefit during the festive season.