Nagpur: In a major breakthrough against the black marketing of railway tickets in the city, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of South East Centre Railway (SECR) unearthed first of its kind, ticket-racket circulating the counter tickets instead of e-tickets. RPF men arrested the owner of Prabhat Tours and Travels in this connection and seized tickets worth Rs 57,000.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Divisional Security Commissioner (DSC) SECR, Ashutosh Pandey informed that the accused would arrange counter tickets from Ayodhya Nagar post office.
“Though this is a classical example of touting, selling of counter tickets was quiet amusing for the RPF. The travel agent would take help of Ayodhya Nagar post office to arrange counter tickets. We have recovered a ticket pad during the checking at post office. This indicates the involvement of some railway officials in the racket. However, it is too early to comment on it but we have initiated departmental inquiry in this connection and would be able to speak only after getting its report” added the DSC.
Besides Nagpur, the RPF busted e-ticket rackets in Gondia, Balaghat, Chhindwara and Nagbhid and recovered material to worth Rs 3.35 lakh.
Need to educate people
Though the case of ticket black marketing is the clear issue of gap between demand and supply, It is the people who need to educate themselves. Owing to tickets shortage, falling for the miscreant offiering railway reservations with additional charges of Rs 400-500 is easy. However, this works as a catalyst when it comes to black marketing of railway tickets.
“As a consumer if you find any agent wooing, instead of buying tickets from them, you should approach us,” Pandey appealed to the consumers.
Consequences for the accused?
Along with police action, the offenders face severe action from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) regarding the ticket black marketing. Besides slapping fine to the offenders, the IRCTC blacklist them and snap their licence, informed Pandey.
