Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks allowed to sell platform tickets

MUMBAI : Railway board has now allowed the Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBS) to sell platform tickets in addition to unreserved ticket and renewal of monthly season tickets (MST) from their premises. JTBS are allowed to levy service charge of Re 1 per passenger irrespective of the destination of the station. The decision to allow sell of platform tickets will help decongest queues outside booking offices at stations that have halts for long distance trains. In May 2012, the rate of platform ticket was increased from Rs 3 to Rs 5. A platform ticket is valid only for two hours.

 A senior CR official said, "As many as 9000 platform tickets are sold at LTT every day. The figure provides an indication of work load at the booking office. The decision will allow a person the option to buy platform ticket at a premium of Rs 1 from JTBS. The advantage being that h/she will not have to stand in long queue at booking office to buy platform tickets."  The JTBS, especially, those having business near major stations can also see growth in earning due to adding up of new customers. Under the JTBS scheme, the railways allow unemployed youth to sell unreserved tickets and monthly season passes at shops, telephone booth etc.  The Ministry of Railways introduced this scheme in 2008 with a view to appoint (JTBS) in various parts of important cities for issue of unreserved tickets through Computerized Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS).