The Hindu Business Line : Rail tickets thru Akshaya centres

Thiruvananthapuram June 10 `Akshaya Kendras' in Malappuram district in Kerala will issue railway tickets, much the same way as the computerised reservation centres of the Railways, from June 11.

The project is being implemented jointly by the State IT Mission and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Passengers will be able to get information on trains and ticket fares, apart from the facility to book or cancel tickets at these centres.

Instead of the regular tickets, the Akshaya centres will issue a print-out to the passenger and he can submit it to the ticket examiner along with an identification document such as passport, voter ID, driving licence or pan card.

A maximum of six persons can book their reservations on a single ticket, but only one person needs to present the identification document. The reservation facility will be available round the clock.

To begin with, the reservation arrangement will be in place at 26 Akshaya centres in Malappuram district. The IT Mission has already deployed digital signature devices to strengthen the electronic safety of these centres, according to officials of the Mission.

The passengers will have to pay an extra amount of Rs 40 on tickets reserved at these counters and there will be no facility for wait-list booking. Starting from Malappuram district, the e-ticketing arrangement will gradually be made available at the `Akshaya' centres in other districts.