RailEnquiry

KOLKATA: Commuting by train has become cheaper for those living in the suburbs. The railways has launched a scheme from April 1 to issue annual and half-yearly season tickets. For commuters, this will imply greater convenience as they would no longer have to queue up at booking counters every month or after three months. There is only one problem. Should a commuter get his pocket picked, he stands to lose a substantial sum."This scheme has been launched to facilitate suburban commuters, the majority of who are season ticket holders.Apart from the monthly and quarterly season tickets, annual and half-yearly ones have also been introduced. The monthly and quarterly season tickets allow cheap travel to commuters. The fares will get cheaper if commuters opt for half-yearly and annual season tickets," an official said.The minimum suburban fare is Rs 5. Those opting for a monthly season ticket (for the minimum distance), have to pay Rs 85. If they travel to and fro for 26 days a month, the one-way fare comes to Rs 1.63. The annual seasonal ticket costs 10.8 times the monthly. Similarly, a half-yearly ticket costs 5.4 times the monthly.A commuter

A commuter paying Rs 85 for a monthly season ticket today would be paying Rs 918 for a yearly pass and Rs 459 for a half-yearly one. His one-way fare will come down to Rs 1.47.

"Not only will the yearly and half-yearly tickets be more convenient for commuters, they will be cheaper as well.

It will be a one-time investment for a commuter will be spared the inconvenience of purchasing a season ticket every month or after three months. It may actually encourage more people into going in for season tickets. For someone (particularly traders) travelling to an fro even 100 days a year or twice a week, it makes sense to purchase a yearly season ticket, instead of going in for daily return tickets," another official said.

Commuters feel these yearly or half-yearly season tickets should be printed on better stationery since the existing tickets are flimsy and won't last a year, particularly inside the pockets of commuters, they said