Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Keeping touts at bay

The RPF has launched a drive against brokers selling tickets at premium rates, writes V.S. Palaniappan

Itis a nightmare to get tickets in trains in peak summer season, especially when one's travel is not planned in advance.

The problem of brokers and touts used to resurface during festival seasons when people urgently want to go home and return to work. Capitalising on the rush, brokers and touts used to block tickets in bulk in fictitious names and sell them at a premium rate. The other category was tickets booked by unauthorised agents.

To end such practices, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is launching a drive to clean up the Passenger Reservation System counters by keeping these travel agents at bay.

More than raids and checks, the public should shun these unauthorised travel agents. They should strictly go through authorised agents or through reservation counters. They could get tickets through the online booking facilityofficials said. With people not wanting to stand in queues for hours to book tickets, they get the services of unauthorised travel agents. Railway officials said in the event of any unfortunate incident or accidents, passengers who travelled by such tickets would not be eligible for any compensation.

Now, the RPF personnel are maintaining vigil and conduct raids at the PRS counters at Coimbatore Railway Junction, North Junction, Gandhipuram and Podanur.

Divisional Railway Security Commissioner Jyoti Kumar Satija and Assistant Commissioner Morris Fernandez ordered the drive across major towns in this region.

The RPF officials check suspects and if they are found in possession of more tickets, reservation forms and cash without any convincing reply on the names and identities of the passengers they are taken into custody.

RPF Inspector N. Keshavadoss said in 2006, the RPF, Coimbatore, had arrested 177 persons . Three hundred tickets worth Rs. 1.5 lakh were recovered from them besides plenty of reservation forms and Rs. 2.2 lakh.

During 2007 till May 10, the RPF officials had arrested 81 persons and seized nearly 100 tickets worth Rs. 27,000 and Rs. 9,000

Public could inform about the touts to the RPF on conditions of anonymity at 2300070, he said.

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