No matter what the Railways do to curb the menace of illegal online tickets, touts using sophisticated software, are always one step ahead of them.
Recently, the Railways unearthed a scam involving 20,000 agents, cornering 50 per cent of all Tatkal tickets in just 40 seconds! That explains why Tatkal tickets disappear in five minutes. Similarly, during the peak summer holiday season, it is difficult to get regular confirmed tickets even if one stands in a queue at a booking window, 120 days in advance. I don’t think the railways have the expertise to counter the online scamsters.
I would suggest the following two measures to address the problem. Firstly, regular tickets may be booked anytime in advance like airline tickets and not be restricted to 120 days. Secondly, online booking of Tatkal tickets should be completely abolished. Tatkal tickets should be available only at Railway booking counters.
REGULAR TICKETS
Like the airlines, travellers should be allowed to book regular tickets anytime in advance and not restricted to 120 days. However, the cancellation charges should be increased substantially with a minimum cancellation charge of 25 per cent and additional 1 per cent every day beginning from 60 days before departure of the train. Undoubtedly, there will be a huge waiting list. However, this list will get whittled down rapidly everyday beginning 60 days before departure of train. (Presently people do not bother to cancel tickets till the last three days as cancellation charges kick in only then).
TATKAL TICKETS
For unplanned journeys and emergencies Tatkal tickets should be sold, but only at booking windows (no online booking). Tatkal was initially introduced only for emergencies. But, as the railways earned a huge amount of revenue from this source, the Tatkal quota was increased considerably.
Today, the Tatkal quota is 18 per cent and another 18 per cent premium Tatkal on dynamic pricing for popular trains. Tatkal has become just ‘another booking option’ for those able and willing to pay a premium. This is unfair to the common man, who stands in long queues for regular tickets, days and months in advance. Hence, the Tatkal premium must be increased. If there is an emergency, the travellers will not mind standing in a queue at booking counters or paying a higher premium for Tatkal tickets.
Moreover, as such, tickets will be available only at booking counters. There will be a huge number of tickets available to satisfy most people in the queue, unlike what happens now. These suggestions, if implemented, will sound the death knell of touts.
