The Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras at all the major reservation centres across the country to prevent black marketing of tickets.
The Railway Ministry has issued instructions to all the zonal headquarters to ensure compliance of a suggestion from the anti-corruption watchdog Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) for installation of CCTV cameras at the reservation counters to prevent touts from seeking tickets, according to ministry officials.
Apart from equipping the reservation counters with the cameras, the ministry is deputing commercial inspectors to monitor the footage.
The CVC has suggested that "CCTV cameras must be installed and should be in a working condition all the time at the reservation centres on 24x7 basis." The CVC suggestion was prompted after a complaint regarding tickets being sold by touts at certain reservation counters of Northern Railway was filed with it, The CVC has also suggested CCTV footage should be regularly examined and used as "better preventive vigilance tool".
The tout menace at ticket counters is a constant problem being faced by the railways despite a slew of measures put in place to check it.Commercial Inspectors of Railways will be now deputed to monitor the footage of CCTVs during peak hours and also on daily basis, as per the latest directive of the Railways.
"These Inspectors will submit their reports to a nominated senior officer and will bring any abnormality to the notice of the official for taking further necessary action," a source said.The installation of cameras has begun at all major reservation counters and footage will be regularly examined. Other such counters will be equipped with the devices once the process is complete at major centres.
The CVC directive will be complied fully, an official said. Reports suggest even Tatkal tickets are also being cornered by touts and sold to hapless passengers at a premium.In the latest step, railways have decided that 50 per cent of Tatkal quota in 80 popular trains would be sold on dynamic pricing. "This has been done to prevent fleecing by touts and facilitating genuine passengers to get confirmed tickets."