Attention, rail passengers! Indian Railways (IR) has recently updated its rules regarding seat or berth bookings under the Emergency Quota (EQ).
This change follows an incident where the Railway Ministry discovered attempts to misuse the EQ system.
Restrictions on Travel Agents and Booking Procedures
The Ministry of Railways has issued a directive to all 17 Railway zones, instructing officials not to accept any EQ reservation requests from travel agents.
This follows the Ministry’s earlier guidelines from 2011, which aimed to streamline EQ allotments.
In case of any misuse complaints, officers are reminded to strictly adhere to these established guidelines.
Key Updates to Emergency Quota Booking
Under the new rules, requests for EQ bookings must be made in writing and signed by a Gazetted Officer.
The request should include the officer’s name, designation, telephone number, and the mobile number of one of the passengers.
Officials are also instructed to maintain a register of all EQ requests, which must include the journey details and the source of the request.
Each request will be assigned a diary number, and it is the responsibility of the person submitting the request to verify the credentials of the travelers.
Furthermore, the Ministry has emphasized that travel agents’ requests for EQ accommodations will not be accepted.
Officials have also been directed to regularly inspect Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centers to monitor for illegal activities and prevent any potential links between touts and reservation staff.
Additionally, officials must keep a record of all requisition slips for three months from the journey date to ensure accountability.
