The Hindu : Front Page : Enhanced quota worries train passengers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
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Enhanced quota worries train passengers

S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI: In a less-publicised move, the Railway has increased `tatkal' reservation quota to 30 per cent on select trains.

As the actual capacity of the trains has not been increased, passengers complain that the accommodation gets booked quite early forcing them to purchase `tatkal' tickets by paying extra charges.

In a recent circular, the Railway Board ordered that the quota should be enhanced on all trains that had 80 per cent or more patronage of `tatkal' booking. Accordingly, the `tatkal' quota in trains like the Chennai-Madurai Pandyan, Chennai-New Delhi Tamil Nadu, Chennai-Coimbatore Cheran Express trains were increased from 72 to 215 berths in sleeper class. The number of upper class berths had also been increased.

As of now, `tatkal' booking commences five days in advance and tickets are issued from originating station and destination station.

The charges are Rs. 150 extra for sleeper class and Rs. 300 for upper class. Drawing a sizeable number of berths for `tatkal' quota from the general pool is unfair. Passengers should have the option of seeking `tatkal' accommodation when the waiting list begins," said N. Kanniah, General Secretary, Southern Railway Mazdoor Union.

Senior Railway officials said that the capacity of these trains could not be increased as they were already running with 24 coaches.

With the advent of `e-ticketing' and advance booking period getting extended to 90 days with effect from March 1, passengers fear that tickets in the normal quota would be booked soon after the counters open or even before.

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