The railway authorities commissioned a computerised advanced reservation facility for the benefit of passengers and commuters in the city on Friday.
The new reservation counter is at N.R. Mohalla Post Office on Shivaji Road and is the third such facility to become operational in the city.
This is part of ongoing efforts to decentralise the ticket issuing system. The authorities said all types of advanced reservations, including tatkal booking, can be made at the new facility which will be functional from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on all days, except Sundays and government holidays.
However, no concessional tickets will be issued except under the senior citizen category. An additional amount of Rs. 15 per ticket in second class, Rs. 20 in 3AC and Rs. 30 in 2AC will be levied as ‘service charge’.
‘Will help passengers’
Rajkumar Lal, Divisional Railway Manager, South Western Railway, Mysuru, said the decentralisation of ticket bookings will help the Railways reach out to the public and reduce rush at the main reservation counter at the city railway station.
In addition to the three counters functioning in the city, the authorities have appointed seven Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBS) in different parts of the city, who issue unreserved tickets and charge a rupee extra as service charge. They are authorised ticket issuing agents appointed by the railways. The seven JTBS are located in residential areas and help frequent short-distance travellers to purchase tickets locally. The authorities have sanctioned 10 more sevaks for the city and will call for applications in due course. Officials expect at least a few of them to become functional which will help reduce queues at booking counters.
Meanwhile, five Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATMVs) which are slated for installation in Mysuru station may become functional later this month. Sources said that points where the machines are to be installed, have been identified and electrical work completed.
