Title - Reservation time up, waiting lists get longer

Chandigarh : The 30-day extension of reservation period for train tickets has resulted in long waiting lists. A rise in passenger volume owing to the approaching summer holidays has led to long waiting lists as far as train reservation from the city is concerned.Officials have advised people to book their tickets in advance to avoid any inconvenience.“I wanted to get a ticket booked for Mumbai, but I was told that it was not possible, so I had to book an air ticket, which resulted in an unwanted increase in my vacation expenditure,” said Anil Gupta, an IT professional from Mohali.“Migrant labourers go home after Baisakhi. Keeping in view the long waiting list, we will increase the number of coaches so that people are not put to inconvenience,” said Parveen Kumar, station superintendent, Chandigarh railway station.Meanwhile, the special train under the IRCTC’s Bharat Darshan programme will leave the local railway station on April 18. Passengers will be able to pay obeisance at seven ‘jyotirlingas’ in South India, including Mahakaleshwar, Grishneshwar and Bhimashankar. The train will pass through Ambala, Moradabad, Ujjain and Dwarika. Passengers will have to pay Rs 6,159 for the 12-day tour.The train to South India will start from the city on May 2. After passing through Ambala, Panipat, Delhi, Jaipur, Dwarika and Ahmadabad, it will return here on May 6. Each passenger will be charged Rs 3,591 for the seven-day tour.The train to Shirdi was announced for May 11. During the 12-day tour, passengers will be able to visit Shirdi, Shanisignapur, Tirupati and Ujjain. Each passenger will be charged Rs 5,643.A senior IRCTC official said bookings were open and people preferred these trains because of decent fares.