Title - 65 TOUTS, 4 UNAUTHORIZED TRAVEL AGENCIES, 5 CASES OF TOT APPREHENDED DURING INTENSIVE CHECKS FROM 1S

During the Holi Rush period (1st March 2013 to 27th March 2013), Northern Railway Vigilance carried out intensive checks at all major locations over Northern Railway. Some of these checks were carried out in association with RPF and Commercial Department.

During these checks special focus was on checks against touts, unauthorized travel agents and also to detect passengers travelling on transferred tickets purchased from unauthorized sources/agencies. In addition to these, checks were also carried out in Mass Contact Areas at PRS/Booking Centers, Platforms, Trains, Parcel offices and catering units etc. to detect malpractices in these areas.

These checks were highly successful and their results are as under:

Decoy Checks

During the period, 06 decoy checks (trap Cases) were conducted. The reservation ticket booked on fictitious names and over charging by Agents was detected during these checks. Action including prosecution has been initiated against RTSAs/UTAs/Touts found reseponsible in these checks.

Touts

During the period, 65 touts were apprehended and prosecuted by the Railway Magistrate under section 143/144 of Railways Act 1989.

RTSAs

During the period, 5 checks were conducted atainst RTSAs and they were found involved in corropt practices including over charging and issuing tickets during banned hours. Action against them has been initiated.

Unauthorized Travel Agents

During the period, 4 unauthorized travel agents were apprehended under section 143 of the Railway Act and prosecuted. Many reservation tickets made on fictitious names were recovered from these unauthorized travel agents.

Travel on Transferred Tickets.

During the period checks were also carried out on trains and 5 persons were detected travelling on tickets reserved in the names of other (fictitious) persons.There has been considerable reduction in the cases of TOT after implementation of ID Proof System.

Mass contact areas (Reservation, Booking, Platforms, Trains)

During the period, around 150 preventive checks were conducted on Railway staff deployed in mass contact areas especially at PRS and booking centers as a result of which action against 85 staff has been initiated.

Special Arrangements: -

Besides these checks by Vigilance, extensive arrangement have been made by Northern Railway to manage smooth flow of passengers duing Holi and Summer Rush 2013. Measures include:

Close watch on Railway staff susceptible to connivance with travel agents/touts.
Monitoring of PRS centers and Tatkal counters through CCTVs to prevent touting activities.
Special checks on trains regarding TOTs on the basis of suspicious requisition forms submitted while booking the tickets.
Special checks on concessional tickets.
Special checks on whether the names of TTEs are being written alongwith moble numbers on working charts.
Adequate manning of coaches by TTEs.
Checks on collection of difference of fares on trains by TTEs.
Public awareness compaign regarding holiday specials, extra coaches and other anti touting measures taken by administration.
Special counter at IRCA/New Delhi manned by officers for dealing with complaints of passengers regarding “Dalals & Touts”.
Monitoring of entry of suspicious persons at IRCA gate with Cameras.
Senior officers supervising arrangement at major PRS centres/stations.
Adequate RPF staffs at sensitive points to check illegal activities.