“I'm a frequent traveller from Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam by 18463 (Prasanthi Express) or 12867 (Aurobindo) or 18047 (Amaravati) or 12254 (Anga) Express. I find that Prasanthi is preferred by many people going to Bengaluru. More importantly it is a perfect day time (unreserved) Inter City Express between Bhubaneswar and Vizag,” says Bhaskar, frequent traveller on this route.
Even though it is a train with reserved Sleeper (11) and AC (5) coaches it is very common and well-known practice that many people buy general tickets and board the Sleeper coaches. As a result it is bringing losses to East Coast Railway and profits to the TTEs.
Anticipating the demand, an Inter City Express (18411) was introduced between these two cities but it is having poor patronage as it is relatively a small train (only 10 coaches), 25 halts and it takes nearly nine hours.
The need of the hour is to upgrade the Inter City to superfast train, reduce the halts, travel time and allow it to run in the present 18463 (Prasanthi Express) schedule, i.e., Departure from Bhubaneswar at 5.30 a.m. and arrival at Visakhapatnam at 12.45 p.m.
The railways should restrict the present Prasanthi Express between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru (as it used to be before extension to Bhubaneswar) and it could act as Link Express to the Inter City Express between Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar.
By the time Inter-City reaches Visakhapatnam station Prashanti Express should be kept ready on the adjacent platform (PF 3) and should depart at its scheduled time at 1.05 p.m. from Visakhapatnam.
“App-based taxi services such as Ola and Uber are resorting to surge pricing in Visakhapatnam. This practice has to be nipped in the initial stage itself. These private cabs increase their prices based on the needs of the particular day.
This is nothing but daylight robbery,” says V.V. Shiv Kumar of Anand Bhavan Residency, Prakasharaopeta Road.
“These taxis resort to surge pricing, if it rains on a particular day. This unethical practice has to be deplored.”
The Delhi government curbed surge pricing by threatening to cancel permits and impound vehicles, if they indulge in such a practice. The private cabs had immediately suspended surge pricing.
The Government of AP should also initiate similar measures to prevent taxis to increase the fares according to their whims and fancies.
