(a) whether it is a fact that in all the Railway Stations, Brokers (Dalals) are giving Confirm Railway Tickets;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether it is also a fact that in all the Railway Stations across the country, Brokers (Dalals) are operating from inside and outside of the Railway Stations and the areas for parcel services; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2921 BY SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2016 REGARDING BROKERS IN RAILWAYS NETWORK.
(a) to (d). No Madam. It is not a fact that brokers are giving confirmed Railway tickets at all Railway stations or they are operating from inside all the Railway stations. However, some cases of touting activities do come to notice during checks conducted by Railways, particularly during peak rush period/festival seasons.
To facilitate travel for the passengers during peak rush period and to ensure availability of train tickets to ‘Common Man’ regular and preventive checks against touting activities are conducted. This is an ongoing continuous process. Various steps have also been taken by the Railways, some of which are as under:
? Joint as well as independent checks are conducted by Commercial, Vigilance & Security Departments to curb the activities of touts. Touts so apprehended are taken up as per provisions of Law.
? Checks conducted at Reservation Offices are supplemented by checks on the train to detect the cases of transferred reserved tickets i.e. persons found travelling fraudulently against accommodation actually reserved in the name of another passenger.
? To curb malpractices by Railway staff in connivance with touts, checks are conducted in booking offices, reservation offices, trains etc. Stringent action is taken against the railway staff under Disciplinary and Appeal Rules, if found including in malpractices.
? Additional computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters are opened during peak rush period/festival seasons at various locations.
? Touting activities occur due to gap between demand and supply of reserved accommodations. To meet the additional demand of passengers, especially during festivals and peak rush periods, including Deepawali, Chhat Pooja, Durga Puja, and Eid, special trains are run, carrying capacity of existing trains is augmented, keeping in view the pattern of traffic, operational feasibility and availability of resources.
? Surveillance at reservation offices has also been stepped up by installing Close Circuit Television at important PRS locations to keep watch on any possible touting activities. Booking pattern at reservation offices are also monitored for detecting unusual pattern and fraudulent working of touts.
? Carrying of prescribed original identity proof has been made compulsory for one of the passengers while undertaking journey in reserved class.
? Computerised reservation system has also been streamlined by making a provision for automatic preparation of reservation charts at least four hours before the scheduled departure of train and to allow booking of vacant accommodation thereafter till preparation of second reservation charts through internet as well as any computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter.
? General public are also educated through Public Address System and media, not to buy tickets from touts/unscrupulous elements and consequences of buying tickets from these sources.
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