RailEnquiry

NASHIK: The Department of Posts (DoP) is planning to open railway reservation centres at 19 locations in the Nashik division.

The DoP has identified 19 locations in Nashik to serve as booking centres for the railways but these are yet to be finalized.

According to Assistant Superintendent, Posts, Nashik headquarters, Pankaj Kulkarni, "Eleven locations have been identified inside the city while eight locations have been identified in the rural areas. The new system will ensure that commuters get their bookings through better assistance."

The official added that after starting the system in Mumbai, the postal department plans to start the railway reservation centres across rural areas and enable citizens to book their tickets in advance.

The Nashik division includes - Igatpuri, Trimbakeshwar, Surgana, Kalwan, Nashik and Sinnar talukas.s

According to the officer, the centres were likely to be raised at Nashik and Nashik Road Head Post Offices, Devlali Camp, Nashik Road Camp, HPT College campus, Nashik City and other post offices inside the city. In the rural areas the post offices at Ghoti, Trimbak, Surgana, Peth, Dindori, Ozar, Sinnnar and Wani that could be serving as reservation centres.

The official also said that as the DoP's reach is tremendous, they wanted to make it available to the common man. "One of the ways to do this is to start railway reservation centres. People would not have to be dependent upon agents and middlemen who charge a high amount as commission," the official added.

Currently, the railway department has only two booking offices - one at Nashik Road and another in Nashik city. The railways has also started an online reservation centre and a service for cellphone users.

"The services started by railway department were mostly for internet users. Citizens without access to the internet are forced to approach railway agents, who charge hefty sums as commission. The new centres will only help commuters book tickets easily," the official said.