Booking a rail ticket is going to be easier with the Northern Railways deciding to increase the number of mobile ticketing vans in the Capital. The facility called ‘mushkil aasan’ will now cater to more localities which are so far confined to a mere ten locations across the city.
Railway officials said at least five more vans will be procured that will issue reserved and unreserved tickets to the passengers in their localities. This will save them the hassle of travelling long distance and stand in long queues to book rail tickets.
At present, there is only one mobile ticketing van stationed at different locations across Delhi from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Saturday. The decision to add more vans has been taken in view of the good response to the 'mobile ticketing facility'.
"The 'mushkil aasan' van has issued 3,889 tickets worth over Rs 27 lakh in April and May this year, and has also refunded tickets worth Rs 8 lakh to passengers. On an average, the Northern Railways have earned Rs 37,266 per day in the first two months of this financial year," said a Northern Railway official.
"More vans will be added and they will be stationed at prominent market places, including tourist spots and industrial hubs," officials said. The ticketing van is currently stationed at CR Park, Vasant Kunj, Dwarka, Mayur Vihar, Malviya Nagar, Burari, Mehrauli, Kalkaji, Tilak Nagar and Rohini.
The location and number of new vans would be decided according to the demands of elected representatives and the railway officials. The mobile ticketing van was launched in January 2010.
The van was introduced to felicitate people, who are unable to go to the railway stations, so that they can purchase tickets at market places and other locations that are convenient to them.