Platform ticket hike effect fizzles out

Secunderabad: With the South Central Railway (SCR) increasing the platform ticket prices by 100 per cent, from Rs 10 to Rs 20, to reduce the rush at the station, the visitors who come to see off their kith and kin are resorting to different modes to avoid purchasing platform tickets.

Many were seen making full use of the loophole in the railway ticket system at the Secunderabad Railway Station; instead of purchasing platform ticket at Rs 20, the visitors were seen buying MMTS journey tickets to next station at Rs 5.

The SCR increased the price from Rs 10 to Rs 20 in a bid to reduce rush at the station during the festival season. Usually many family members and friends visit the station to send off passengers. The authorities initiated the temporary price hike for platform tickets during festival season from Wednesday till October 10.

However, the visitors were following the other way to escape the increased fare. They are buying MMTS tickets and passenger train tickets for next station, which are far less than the platform tickets, and bidding adieu their family or friends.

Though, railway officials have knowledge about it, they are ignoring it as they can't do anything. Some of them are being caught and fined at exit points, however, it is resulting in undue arguments as technically speaking the visitors are not breaking any law .

"Nearly, 2 lakh people visit Secunderabad railway station every day. Among them, 60,000 to 70,000 people come just to receive or send off family and friends. In order to reduce the crowd in festival seasons, we undergo this process," says Ch Jayaram, station director. He further added, "We can't conduct a special drive on people who buy MMTS tickets instead of platform tickets."

"I came to drop my wife but was shocked at the platform ticket fare. I think this is not the way to reduce the crowd. It would be better if they keep some checking points and allow only one visitor with one passenger," says Narayana Murthy, lecturer in Jr. College.

"After seeing the platform ticket fare, I thought it would be better to buy a MMTS ticket to enter into the platform and did the same. It is just a move to make money by railways," says Jawahar Sai, a visitor.