Title - Soon, post offices to sell rail tickets

Soon, people in remote areas will not have to commute miles just to book railway tickets as the service will be available in your post office. The Trivandrum division of the Southern Railways is holding discussions with the India Post, Kerala division about selling railway tickets at post office counters. “The discussions about passenger reservation systems are at a preliminary stage. Initially the service will be made available in post offices at Mannarkadu, Kavarathy (Lakshadweep) and Kumily on a pilot basis. The idea is to help people in remote areas book train tickets without difficulty. The locations selected will be those situated far away from the main lines,” a top official said. The service will be as good as a railway counter and includes reservation for long-distance trains, the official said, adding that no extra rates will be charged from customers. The initiative will come as a big relief to people living in the hilly areas of the state. “The move will suit a state like Kerala due to its geographical dimensions. Currently, locals in areas like Peerumedu have to travel all the way to Pala or Kottayam just to book tickets. People in such areas are also not tech-savvy so as to make use of the online facility,” he said. Currently, both agencies are encountering infrastructural problems like secured VAN connectivity and sufficient equipment. The measure, personally initiated by divisional railway manager Rajesh Aggrawal, is part of the efforts to reach out to more people and increase revenue. This year, at least 12 reservation counters were opened in areas like Idukki, Munnar, Pathanamthitta, Attingal, Kodugallor, Kanjirapally, Nedunkandam and Pala.