Rlys invites pvt players to sell tickets...
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Mahendra Singh / The Times of India
New Delhi:
Key Topic: Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendras (YTSK)
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Railways has invited private players to sell tickets of both reserved and unreserved category , inviting ire of employee unions.
The unions are crying foul and opposing the move as it has come after the new dispensation decided to outsource cleaning of 50 major stations and decided to deploy `Gate Mitras' (counsellors) hired by private agencies at unmanned level crossings instead of posting trackmen.
The unions have termed these moves as “back-door“ privatization of railway operations.
The stiff resistance came after the Railway Board's directive to allow public-private partnership in the establishment and operation of computerized Passenger Reservation System-cum-Unreserved Ticketing System terminals.
Boarding passes not needed to claim TA
Government officials no longer need to submit boarding passes while claiming travelling allowance (TA). The DoPT has decided to settle for a mere undertaking from the officer concerned that the journey was performed. P 11
As of now, all the PRS counters across the country are operated by railway employees while only authorized travel agents are allowed to sell e-tickets.
The new reservation centres would be called Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendras (YTSK). Railways justify the plan saying the move would help expansion of the facilities for purchase of tickets that would help passengers.
To start with, railways would allow only authorized ticketing agents with five year experience and those who have an office outside the railway station equipped with adequate infrastructure to run the YTSK.
The unions argue that in the past also, outsourcing of such activities to private parties has resulted in lots of discrepancies, frauds and public complaints. It said even authorized travel agents were banned for a pretty long time and opening the flood gate to private parties will definitely give a bad name to railways.
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