KOCHI: The railway commuters are fuming over the recent decision of railways to reduce the advance reservation period of tatkal scheme to 24 hours from the existing 48 hours. According to many passengers, the decision has left them in the lurch. Ranjith K, a Kannur resident who is employed in Ernakulam said, “earlier I had at least two days to confirm the status of my ticket booked in the general quota. But that option has lost. How can I be assured that my ticket will be confirmed or not? Thousands of people would be queued up in railway reservation counters every where within the 24 hours itching for a ticket. Only the lucky ones would be able to get it.” What the passengers claim is that the tatkal scheme will no more be of much use for the passengers.But the authorities welcome the railway board decision. “The railways have realised that the black marketing practised by agents especially in states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka was badly affecting public as well as the railways. The decision will truly benefit everyone in the long run,” an official here said. “Even though, cases of black marketing is not serious in Kerala as in other states, the railways cannot avoid a few stations on this account.” Also, he feels that the decision is going to put an end to the unholy nexus between business men and the agents who rob common men of their chance to earn tatkal tickets in an emergency. A railway reservation clerk here said, “till now, duplicate tickets were hoarded and agents made huge profit. So the present move will benefit both the railways and the passengers.”Some passengers also second the railway authorities’ decision. “I feel this is more beneficial, because only the deserving would get the tickets,” Sajeev S said.But a strong hue and cry has been raised by the public on the railways’ decision to not refund the money of the ticket if a passenger wants it cancelled. “The railway board has said that this would help reduce a lot of cases of cheating. But for common passengers like us, this is not fair. Even private agencies refund us at least a per cent of the amount,” a passenger Joseph T said. Earlier, at least 25 per cent of total ticket fare, excluding tatkal charges, used to be refunded on cancellation of a ticket. The other decisions taken by the railways are: 1. Maximum of four passengers per PNR can be booked on tatkal tickets. This decision is difficult for those who have more than four members in a family.2.For booking tatkal tickets, the passenger shall enter the ID proof type and number, which is to be used for travel. These details will be printed on the ERS/VRM as well as in the reservation chart.
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