Lok Sabha Question No. 2188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-03
Subject: Ticketing Touts
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE, DALPAT SINGH PARASTE, ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, TAMRADHWAJ SAHU, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, K. ASHOK KUMAR, BAHADUR SINGH KOLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2188 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2015

## TICKETING TOUTS

## 2188. SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARASTE:

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

DR. C.GOPALAKRISHNAN :

SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU:

SHRI R.DHRUVA NARAYANA:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

SHRI K.ASHOK KUMAR:

SHRI BAHADUR SINGH KOLI:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether    the Railways  are  aware  of  the activities of touts  and involvement of many travel agencies in black marketing of train tickets and  if  so,  the  details  in  this  regard  including  the  action  plan  of  the Railways to deal with the situation;
- (b) whether the Railways have busted a racket of travel agents who were booking train tickets in bulk with the help of a software made available to them illegally;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Railways  have  filed  cases  against  such  people  including IRCTC officials and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Railways in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) &  (e)  :  Some  cases  of  cornering/black  marketing  of  train  tickets  by touts and involvement of travel agencies in black marketing of train tickets do come to notice at the time of surprise inspection and preventive checks conducted at reservation offices. To curb the activities of touts, preventive checks are conducted in and around reservation offices in association with Commercial, Vigilance and Security Departments.

Apart  from  conducting  surprise  inspection  and  preventive  checks  in  and around reservation offices, following steps have also been taken to curb the activities of touts:-

-  Surveillance at reservation offices has been stepped up by installing Close Circuit Television at important Passenger Reservation System locations.
-  Booking  pattern  at  reservation  offices  is  also  monitored  for  detecting unusual pattern and fraudulent activities, if any.
-  Carrying of prescribed original Identity Proof has been made compulsory for one of the passengers while undertaking journey in reserved class.
-  To  meet  the  additional  demand  of  reserved  accommodation,  especially during  festivals  and  peak  rush  periods,  special  trains  are  run,  carrying capacity  of  existing  trains  is  augmented  depending  upon  the  pattern  of traffic, operational feasibility and availability of resources.
-  General  public  are  also  educated  through  Public  Address  System  and media, not to buy tickets from touts/unscrupulous elements and consequences of buying tickets from these sources.
-  To  curb  malpractices  by  Railway  staff  in  connivance with  touts  in fraudulent  cornering  of  seats,  checks  are  conducted  in  booking  offices, reservation  offices,  trains  etc.  Stringent  action  is  taken  against  the Railway  staff  under  Disciplinary  and  Appeal  Rules,  if  found  indulging  in malpractices.
- (b)
- : Yes, Madam.
- (c) &  (d):  During  the  course  of  preventive  checks  conducted  on  Central Railway, two cases were detected in which unauthorized rail tickets were being  sold  through  illegal  software.  Thirteen  touts  were  arrested  and handed over for prosecution. They were in possession of 3896 e-tickets valued at Rs.1,90,43,942/-.  The present case is under trial in the court of law and the next date of hearing is scheduled for 29.08.2015.

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