RailEnquiry

By Yogesh Kabirdoss - CHENNAI 12th February 2013 08:41 AM
Passengers of Sapthagiri Express from Chennai Central to Tirupati had surprise ‘savings’ on Saturday, as the excess fare, effected after the revision of train fares, was not collected. Interestingly, the same train from Tirupathi on Sunday also enjoyed the same privilege, thanks to the absence of the Travel Ticket Examiner (TTE), who is supposed to check and collect the difference of fares.

And, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as several coaches in long-distance trains go unattended by TTEs due to the additional burden of collecting the revised fares from every commuter, if sources are to be believed.

“I am able to cover only one coach to collect the extra fares in an hour, apart from verifying the tickets and noting down the ID proof numbers,” a TTE from Coimbatore claimed. “A TTE is able to verify tickets of three compartments in an hour, but with the additional task of collecting the excess fare, we are forced to leave some coaches unattended,” he added. The Ministry of Railways revised passenger fares with effect from January 22. Passengers could remit the excess fare at reservation offices and special counters at major stations or with the TTE. With most of the travellers preferred the onboard facility, the ticket checkers had to spend more time to collect the additional fares.

Paucity for TTEs in Southern Railway is the main reason for some coaches being omitted,” said R Elangovan, working president, Dakshin Railway Employees Union.