Indian Railways Update: If you’ve ever relied on a travel agent to book a train ticket through the emergency quota, then this news is crucial for you.
The Railway Ministry has issued clear instructions to all 17 zonal railway officials stating that requests from travel agents for emergency quota tickets will no longer be accepted.
This decision comes after ongoing complaints of misuse of the emergency quota system.
What Did the Railway Ministry Say?
In a letter sent to all Principal Chief Commercial Managers, the Ministry stated, “There have been numerous complaints about travel agents attempting to reserve seats under the emergency quota, which is against the rules.”
What Are the New Guidelines?
The 2011 guidelines regarding emergency quota bookings will now be strictly enforced. Key changes include:
No requests from travel agents will be accepted.
All requests must be signed by a gazetted officer.
The passenger’s details (name, designation, phone number, and mobile number) must be included in the request.
Every request will be logged into a register with full journey details, and a diary number will be assigned to each request.
Strict Monitoring and Investigation
The Railway Ministry has instructed officials to monitor PRS (Passenger Reservation System) centers regularly to prevent collusion between touts and railway staff.
Additionally, if any request uses terms like “VV IMPT,” “MUST,” or “ADJUST”, it must be verified by contacting the requester directly.
Record Keeping
All requisition slips must be stored for three months, and officers are prohibited from giving blank signed slips to their staff.
