The dynamic pricing of the tatkal ticketing system in Railways has come under the scanner of a Parliamentary panel. While slamming the Railways’ move to sell half the tatkal tickets under dynamic pricing, the panel has recommended for reducing the premium on such tickets to a “minimum essential level” as the system was “legitimising inequality”.
“It is high time Railways institutionalise the concerns of the poor. The committee would, therefore like the Ministry to reduce premium on tickets of tatkal reservation to a minimum essential level,” the Public Accounts Committee said in its report tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
It observed that those who can afford to pay premium as well as those who have access to internet are getting their confirmed berths without any hassles whereas those who cannot are not getting the tickets. The panel also felt that the percentage of advanced reservation is enhanced and that tatkal reservation should be reduced to a feasible and sustainable level in the greater interest of the travelling public. “The system was legitimising inequality,” the committee said.
The committee also suggested that a certain quota restriction should be put on ticket reservation bookings by internet so as to provide a better equitable opportunity for the poor, disadvantaged and deprived classes of society having no access to internet, thus making them available the benefit of ticket reservation in a more fair and just manner.
The panel also took serious note of 24 Rail Travellers Service Agents (RTSA) operating without furnishing any license fee, security deposits and without any liability, the committee recommended an appropriate enquiry against the officials responsible and disciplinary proceedings against them. It felt that such blatant flouting of norms may not be possible without the connivance of local railway officials and sought disciplinary action against officials responsible for flouting norms.