Railways takes on its 'touts-cum-staff'

It is a known fact that the Railways' own staff are often involved in ticket touting. They have now emerged as the biggest obstacle in dealing with the menace. Darpan Singh reports.

It is a known fact that the Railways' own staff are often involved in ticket touting. They have now emerged as the biggest obstacle in dealing with the menace.

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Almost all the measures announced by the Railways to curb touting ahead of the summer rush target its own employees.

About 500 of these employees are caught in Northern Railway's jurisdiction every month. About half of these cases are reported from Delhi and its adjoining stations.

"The focus will be on tracking and preventing the connivance of our staff with touts. We will prevent blocking of reservations under fictitious names and subsequent transfer of such tickets. Hourly transaction statements from reservation clerks will be analysed, taking note of unusually high transactions. Checks will be undertaken with regard to refund specifically after preparation of charts," said a senior Northern Railway official.

"We have intensified our efforts and are taking tougher measures. We are keeping a close watch on railway staff susceptible to connivance with travel agents. We will raid premises of ticketing agencies with the help of the local police and the Central Bureau of Investigation. We have identified intensive check points at various levels to plug all loopholes," he said.