Context :
WR
to install dual display screen to curb overcharging passengers ….
HT / 15 Jan 2024
Extract :
In a bid to simplify and make the railway
ticket booking procedure transparent, especially for the labourers and migrant
workers, who end up paying more money at the ticket booking counters, the
Western Railway (WR) is trying out a measure that could prevent passengers from
being wrongly overcharged.
A dual display information screen is being
tried and tested which will be installed outside the ticket booths. When a
passenger books a train ticket for a long-distance journey from the ticket
window counter at the station, the information about the journey and total fare is
clearly displayed on the screen. This screen will be like a large 32-36-inch TV set
installed vertically next to the ticket window connected to the computerised system of
the ticket window. The
screen will show the departing station and destination, total fare, and
passenger names among other details in multilingual form.
“With this dual display screen, everything that
the staff seated on the ticket booking window does in the system is visible to
the passenger outside. We are working out the correct font size, pattern of
information to be displayed and other parameters for this system which will be
installed at ticket counters. We want to make it more interactive and animated
so that it’s understandable to everyone. We will keep the total ticket amount
in a large font for everyone to see clearly,” explained a WR official on
condition of anonymity.
The WR authorities have already given
the contract after the tendering process. Some portion of this screen will be
used for information and advertisement purposes. According to sources in the
railways, there have been allegations in the past where the personnel sitting
at the ticket counter charges extra in the name of Superfast fare or Express
fare and pockets the amount.
Explaining it further, a railway
police official said that there have been instances where in the morning hours
and when tatkal booking is on; passengers are in a hurry and after paying the
fare amount, the change in return is paid less by the unscrupulous staff and
pocket the balance. The passenger associations also support this proposed
system which they feel will curb incidents of passengers especially those
travelling in Sleeper and General Class getting fooled into paying higher
fares.
The migrants and labourers are the ones who are
usually gullible and end up paying unwanted charges or more than the fare. The
railways should simplify the display board as much as possible for everyone to
understand,” said Subhash Gupta, president, of Rail Yatri Parishad.
My Take :
Dear Ashwini
Vaishnawji ( Railway Minister ) :
Congratulations for this
initiative which will bring transparency to the entire ticketing process at
PHYSICAL ticketing booth
This kind of transparency
is already existing for ONLINE ticket booking through IRCTC website
There is even a Mobile
App for booking tickets [ IRCTC Rail
Connect ]
How about
integrating these two systems so that , in
addition to those large screens outside physical booths , same data also
appears on the IRCTC app ?
Then , the ticket buyer
will have a permanent proof on his mobile – which , he can show while boarding
the train or when asked by a roving Ticket Inspector
That is not all . By
integrating the two systems, passenger would know his Bogey No / Seat No ( on
the App ) , thereby minimizing confusion and quarrels between co-passengers .
It can also alert the passenger about the Platform Number ( from train is to
depart ) and possible departure time ( late departure )
And , should the ticket
buyer have any complaints to lodge re any process or any person , he could use
the same Mobile App for providing such feedback to the WR authority
Incidentally , how about
this large screen also DYNAMICALLY showing, the number of SEATS / BIRTHS
remaining AVAILABLE ( vacant ) , on that train ( separately , for 1st
class and 2nd class ) ?
I presume , once WR starts
this system , Central Railway will follow suit
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.ai / 15 Jan 2024
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