Title - Railway tickets: Revised 'tatkal' timings make reservation easier

Ludhiana : With the railway authorities tightening the noose around touts and colluding railway staff and the revised timings of 10 am to 12 noon for booking "tatkal" railway tickets has come as a huge relief to people. On the first day today, just a handful of persons were standing in the queue at the railway reservation centre and got tickets in the "tatkal" category" without any jostling.The Divisional Traffic Manager of Northern Railway, Palwinder Singh, said vigil was being maintained at the railway reservation complex to ensure that middlemen or touts were kept away from 'tatkal' ticket booking counters. "We have given strict instructions to those manning the reservation counters not to entertain any unauthorised persons and accept railway reservation forms under the 'tatkal' category from those who would produce proper ID of the passenger as well as their mobile phone numbers for verification purposes, if required. The RPF personnel were also deployed at the reservation complex to keep an eye on undesirable persons," he said. There was visible relief on the faces of many who were waiting to get railway reservation under the 'tatkal' category. "The railway authorities have not put up a special counter for tatkal booking as was announced earlier, but still the situation has undergone a sea change," observed Ram Parsad, a migrant worker.

Another resident Sanjeev Kumar said the mad rush was nowhere to be seen at the reservation centre as the booking counter opened at the stipulated time. "The absence of touts and presence of police personnel to restore order seems to have made all the difference," he said.

Railway officials said for now, 'tatkal' booking forms were being accepted at all operational counters between 10 am and 12 noon since the number of those seeking reservation in this category was manageable. If the number of applicants increases, a separate counter will be set up at the reservation complex.