Ticket less travel, undoubtedly is the biggest menace witnessed by the Indian Railways, giving substantial losses to its passenger services. In spite of the truth that Second Class Railway Fares continue to be highly reduced, and are much cheaper than other modes of transport, ticket less travel constantly to rise day by day. In this context, I wish to post some classic incidents of ‘en masse’ ticket less travel, which continue to occur with a disturbing regularity.
On the Nandyal - Donakonda route of the South Central Railways, especially at a station called Cumbum, a large group of woodcutters clamber on to any available passenger train, without buying any tickets. Thanks to this, many a passenger train has been held up in this section.
Every Friday & Saturday faces a large crowd of devotees moving en-masse to & from Gooty, from their respective places, which may be as 150 to 200 Kilometers. And all they give is a pathetic Rs 10/- as the to & fro fare — a pathetic case of “legal” ticketless traveling.
Whenever a rally/demonstration/dharna is deputed/staged in any state capital or the national capital, all the trains going in that direction are choc-a-bloc with the rallyists, most of who, would not bother to buy tickets. They occupy reserved compartments with simple, and the genuine passengers are troubled. Even the higher classes such as AC and First Class are not left. In a current development, the ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a Student’s Body), is holding a massive rally in New Delhi, to try to influence the Centre on some of its policies relating to employment. And I am 95% sure; they would not purchase any tickets. The Secretary of one of the regional units of ABVP, in Andhra Pradesh, has urged the passengers traveling by the Andhra Pradesh Express and Dakshin Express on the 23rd & 24th November, to “co-operate” with the ABVP activists by canceling their reservations, so that the ABVP folks can travel to NDLS “unhindered” by the ordinary mortals.
What can be solution to this problem? Some of my suggestions:
* On an practice basis, depute “conductors” in unreserved compartments. They can give tickets to the passengers, if they have not got any, either knowingly, or simply because of lack of time, to purchase the ticket. Of course, one conductor won’t is not enough. At least 2 should be installed, and if the requirement arises, the no. can be increased.
Increase ticket checking, by organizing a team including TTEs + armed RPF constables. Central Railway has taken a right procedure in this direction, by introducing “Tejaswini” Checking squads — a group of Lady TTEs accompanied by Woman RPF Constables.
Set up temporary ticket vending booths on the platform, near the unreserved compartments, so that passengers coming in at the 11th hour can buy their tickets.
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