From December1, you require an original identity proof to travel in any reserved services of the Indian Railways. Those without identity proof will be treated as travelling without ticket and attract a penalty equivalent to the ticket fare.
Air-conditioned three-tier economy — which includes Garib Rath users — will also need to carry an identity proof document from December 1.
At present, identity proof is required for air-conditioned travel, e-ticket users and Tatkal booking.
In case of a group booking, one of the passengers has to show identity proof. The move is expected to reduce the misuse of reserved tickets.
This will impact about 7-8 lakh passengers who use the sleeper services every day.
In a related move, the Railways has expanded the list over and above the identity proofs currently accepted. The new list includes cards having serial numbers issued by public sector undertakings of State/Central Government, district, municipal and panchayat administrations.
The present list includes voter photo identity card, passport, PAN card, driving licence, ration card and pension pay order, among others.
“Any one of the passengers booked on a PNR for undertaking a journey in any reserved class has to produce …proofs of identity in original during the journey, failing which all the passengers booked on that ticket will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly,” stated an official release.
Keywords: train travel, reserved train travel, reserved coaches, Indian Railways, railways
Comments:
Mandatory requirement of original ID proof for sleeper class too is a
good step to curb misuse of ticketing system. TTE's should be instructed to peruse ID details for atleast 8-10 seconds simultaneously
throwing a smiling look at the passenger concerned. In respect of
passengers who may be sleeping at the time of checking, the TTE should
exercise his right of duty to wake them up as being done while checking tickets in unreserved coaches.
If the above system is strictly followed, misuse of journey tickets
can be almost curbed if not totally eliminated and the time limit for advance reservation may be brought down to say one month limit.
The present system of 4 month advance reservation is ridiculous.
How could a person foresee a travel exigency 120 days in advance ?
Further to my comments dated Nov 2, 2011, the Railways may
analyze the extent of cancellations of booked tickets for the
months of Dec 2012, Jan and Feb 2012 in selective corridors like
chennai-Delhi, Mumbai-Kolkata or other important routes and compare
such cancellation figures with those prevailed for the corresponding months of the previous year. This figure comparison ( if wide difference between two ) will lead to an inference that the new
rule with effect from 1 12 2012 has deterred the touts. Incase of
no appreciable variation of figures between the two, the Railways
may extend Tatkal reservation rules (printing ID number on tickets)
to cover Sleeper class and Second class sitting.
No doubt this is a big task for the Railways to embark on the
suggestions above. But if done, the day is not far off when one
can get a confirmed berth / seat for a mere asking.
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