Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: ID proof must for Sleeper Class soon

Indian Railways could soon make it mandatory for passengers to carry their original ID proof while travelling in Sleeper Class. The system is already in force for travel in the AC coaches and the extension of the rule to the Sleeper Class comes in the backdrop of growing complaints about touts and unauthorised travel.

Sources told The Pioneer that Railways Minister Mukul Roy has directed the Railway Board to do necessary arrangements and issue guidelines to all concerned departments “at the earliest”. Railway officials believe that the rule of carrying ID proof for Sleeper Class travel may come into force by next month.

“The rule helped us check unauthorised travel and manipulation of Tatkal tickets for AC coaches. Inspired by its outcome, we have decided to extend the rule to the Sleeper Class as well,” the official said. Over 90 per cent of train passengers travel in Sleeper Classes.

Since 2009, in all 5,125 touts have been chargesheeted of which 2,370 have been convicted. As many as 218 railway officials have been caught and 136 of them have been suspended and convicted for manipulation of reservation system.

Carrying ID proof for AC class travel was made mandatory on February 15. Railways had prescribed nine documents that could be treated as ID proof. These instructions were in addition to the existing orders under which the passengers with Tatkal tickets and e-tickets are already required to carry original proof of identity during the course of Railway journey.

In case of Tatkal tickets, self-attested photocopy of the Identity Card is required at the time of purchase from the PRS counters or I-Card details (number etc) are to be entered at the time of purchase from internet.

While 3,012 touts were apprehended in 2010-11, more than 2,157 of them were detained between April 2011 and January 2012 for manipulation of reservation system. During the last three years, 80 departmental staff have been found involved in such activities.

Meanwhile, Roy assured the Lok Sabha on Thursday that a proposal from members to make available train reservation on demand on telephone would be considered. “I assure you, within three months this request would be considered by the Railway Board,” Roy said during Question Hour.

BJP MP Sanjay Dhotre had sought to know from Roy whether train reservation would be available on telephone on demand, even on the same day of travel.

Roy faced some tough moments as members complained that he was absent from Rail Bhawan for most of the time. “The Minister should inform the House when he will sit at Rail Bhawan regularly,” a member was heard as saying in the House.

Another member said the Minister was found more in Kolkata than in Delhi. Roy, however, appeared to ignore these remarks and did not respond. Source - Daily Pioneer