Vadodara railway division is initiating a new system for advance reservation to tackle the menace of touts, who are doing a brisk business with the start of summer vacations just around the corner. Even as genuine passengers, despite waiting in line for hours, hardly have a shot in the advanced booking for reserved train tickets, touts get their hands on the tickets first and corner a bulk on the opening date itself.
According to the new system, which the railway division is introducing on experimental basis from April 1, passengers wanting to make an advance reservation will have to get their names and details registered in a register at advance reservation counters a day before they wish to make an advance booking. The next day, they will be able to do the reservation as per their entry in the register.
Vadodara railway division's senior divisional commercial manager Pradeep Banerjee said, "Passengers can make their entry along with details of their address, contact numbers in the official register between 8.30 am and 9 am. They will have to present a copy of their photo identity when they enter their name in the register. As per their serial number in the register, their turn will come at the reservation counters the next day."
Original photo identity will be required at the time of making the booking. Also, if the passenger who has registered his or her name in the register is unable to make it at the reservation centre, an authorization letter along with original identity will have to be submitted by the person making the booking on his or her behalf.
Officials are hoping that this system will help counter the menace of touts, who will get easily identified because of the entry in the register.
Even on Saturday, the railway officials had nabbed a tout at Pratapnagar railway station while the tout identified as Vitthal Makwana was standing in queue to make a reservation in somebody else's name. Makwana was handed over to police.