Date:13/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/13/stories/2008091360740300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Buying rail ticket made easy

Staff Reporter

Divisional Railway Manager launches the counter

‘As many as 29 such counters would come in the division in the first phase’
‘Prospective agents should be willing to operate counters round-the-clock’

VIJAYAWADA: Putting an end to the problem of waiting for longer hours to buy a ticket for travelling in unreserved coaches of various trains, the Vijayawada division of the South Central Railway on Friday launched Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sewa in the city. Divisional Railway Manager Vasishta Johri launched the counter at Balaji Communications, located opposite the Tahasildar (urban) office at Gandhinagar.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Johri said that as many as 29 such counters would come in the division in the first phase, of which six would be located in the city itself.

“This is the first counter and the remaining five will be opened soon at Gunadala, Autonagar, Suryaraopet and Benz Circle areas. Commuters can purchase tickets three days in advance and they will have to pay an additional amount of Re.1 per ticket, which will be given to the agent concerned as commission,” he explained.

Mr. Johri said this arrangement would be a win-win for the commuters and the Railways, as the commuters could book their ticket in advance at the nearest point so that last-minute rush at the booking counters could be avoided, while the Railways would be able to offer better services. “It will help us know the number of passengers travelling in unreserved coaches of a particular train. Accordingly, we can increase the number of coaches whenever there is a requirement,” he said.

Referring to the modalities for obtaining an agency to set up JTBS kiosks, Mr. Johri said that the persons should be willing to operate the counters round-the-clock and deposit a sum of Rs. 75,000 with the Railways. “In addition, they will have to purchase equipment like a computer and a printer estimated to cost about Rs. 50,000. The Railways will provide the required technology,” he said.

Mr. Johri said that the Railway Board would consider extending the facility of converting the JTBS counters into advance reservation counters in the future, based on the response from the public. He said that at present advance reservation facility was available at Canara Bank’s ATM near the railway station and the facility would be extended to other ATM counters in the future.

Additional Divisional Railway Manager M. Sarjan Rao, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager B. Vijaya Bhaskar, proprietor of Balaji Communications A. Suresh Kumar and others were present.