Question : Blackmarketing of Railway Tickets

(a) the number of touts arrested for blackmarketing of railway tickets during the current year, zone-wise;
(b) the number of surprise checks conducted by the vigilance department, zone-wise along with the number of touts arrested in each check;
(c) the action taken by the Government so far against those touts who have been arrested and the outcome of the action taken in this regard;
(d) the steps taken to correct such problems and the reaction of the Government on the said outcome; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to amend the rules of online ticketing services under tatkal reservation ticket service of the railways and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
( SHRI MANOJ SINHA )

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.81 BY SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI, SHRI NITYANAND RAI, SHRI OM BIRLA, SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA AND KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.02.2016 REGARDING BLACKMARKETING OF RAILWAY TICKETS

(a) to (c): The number of touts arrested by Railway Protection Force (RPF) for black marketing of railway tickets, action taken against them, number of checks conducted on touts by Vigilance department and the number of touts apprehended in these checks during the years 2015 and 2016 (Upto January) is appended.

All the persons apprehended by Vigilance department in surprise checks on touting activities are handed over to RPF for prosecution under Section 143 of the Railways Act.

(d): The following measures are taken to prevent the black marketing of the railway tickets:-
1. Regular joint drives are conducted by Commercial, Vigilance and RPF against touts. These checks are intensified during peak rush/ festival periods. Touts are apprehended and prosecuted as per Section 143 of Railways Act. Besides, to monitor the working of reservation counters and to keep watch on possible activities of touts, Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) have been installed at important computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) locations.
2. Token system has been introduced at Tatkal Reservation Counters at major railway stations.
3. Provision of ID proofs has been made compulsory at the time of Tatkal ticket booking.

(e): At present there is no proposal under consideration to amend the rules of booking under Tatkal quota for internet booking or booking through PRS counters. However, amendment in the reservation schemes including Tatkal, based on the feedback, is a continuous and ongoing process.
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