Lok Sabha Question No. 2921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Brokers in Railways Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2921 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## BROKERS IN RAILWAYS NETWORK

## 2921. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  in  all  the  Railway  Stations, Brokers (Dalals) are giving Confirm Railway Tickets;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether it  is  also  a  fact  that  in  all  the  Railway  Stations across the country, Brokers (Dalals) are operating from inside and  outside  of  the  Railway  Stations  and  the  areas  for  parcel services; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2921  BY  SHRI  KAMAKHYA  PRASAD TASA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2016 REGARDING BROKERS IN RAILWAYS NETWORK.

- (a) to  (d).  No  Madam.    It  is  not  a  fact  that  brokers  are  giving confirmed  Railway  tickets  at  all  Railway  stations  or  they  are operating  from  inside  all  the  Railway  stations.    However,  some cases  of  touting  activities  do  come  to  notice  during  checks conducted by Railways, particularly during peak rush period/festival seasons.

To facilitate travel for the passengers during peak rush period and to ensure availability of train tickets to 'Common Man' regular and  preventive  checks  against  touting  activities  are  conducted. This  is  an  ongoing  continuous  process.    Various  steps  have  also been taken by the Railways, some of which are as under:

-  Joint  as  well  as  independent  checks  are  conducted  by Commercial, Vigilance & Security Departments to curb the activities of touts.  Touts so apprehended are taken up as per provisions of Law.
-  Checks conducted at Reservation Offices are supplemented by checks on the train to detect the cases of transferred reserved tickets i.e. persons found travelling fraudulently  against  accommodation  actually  reserved  in the name of another passenger.

-  To curb malpractices by Railway staff in connivance with touts, 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 including in malpractices.
-  Additional  computerised  Passenger  Reservation  System (PRS) counters are opened during peak rush period/festival seasons at various locations.
-  Touting activities  occur  due  to  gap  between  demand and supply of reserved accommodations. To meet the additional demand of passengers, especially during festivals and peak  rush periods, including  Deepawali, Chhat  Pooja,  Durga  Puja,  and  Eid,  special  trains  are  run, carrying capacity of existing trains is augmented, keeping in  view  the  pattern  of  traffic,  operational  feasibility  and availability of resources.
- Surveillance at reservation offices has also been stepped up by installing Close Circuit Television at important PRS locations to keep watch on any possible touting activities. Booking pattern at reservation offices are also monitored for  detecting  unusual  pattern  and  fraudulent  working  of
-  touts.

-  Carrying  of  prescribed  original  identity  proof  has  been made compulsory for one of the passengers while undertaking journey in reserved class.
-  Computerised reservation system has also been streamlined by making a provision for automatic preparation of reservation charts at least four hours before the  scheduled  departure  of  train  and  to  allow  booking  of vacant accommodation thereafter till preparation of second reservation charts through internet as well as any computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter.
-  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.

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