The South Central Railways intends to educate passengers about the e-ticket process, and advises them to watch out for agents that are not authorized.
Aiming to eliminate fraud such as tampering of Electronic Reservation Slips (ERS), overcharging and other issues by authorised agents issuing e-tickets for train journeys, the South Central Railway will take up a public awareness campaign on e-ticketing. In this connection, passengers have been asked to be conversant with the procedures regarding the booking of e-tickets through authorised agents in order to avoid any problem.
According to the SCR, passengers first need to check if the agent they are booking through is authorized. The details of "authorized agent outlets" are available on the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website: www.irctc.co.in.
Further, passengers have been asked to verify that the photo-ID and the authorization certificate of the agent are prominently displayed at the agent's outlet.
Passengers should also insist that their mobile numbers are fed into the system correctly by the agent. Passengers will receive an SMS containing details of their booking, including fare and service charges, from the IRCTC, immediately, as confirmation of their booking. This SMS serves as a valid ticket, says the SCR. Passengers may show the SMS to the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) on their train, along with their proof of identity. You need not carry a printout of the e-ticket, adds the SCR.
Also, passengers should ensure that the name of the "principal agent", and the name of the agent outlet booking the ticket, along with the address and contact number of the agent, are printed on the e-tickets. They should also obtain a receipt for all booking/cancellation transactions.
During your journey, you must carry any one of the prescribed proof of identities, in original - voter identity card, passport, PAN card, Aadhaar card, driving license, photo identity card issued by the Central or state govt., a student identity card (issued by a recognized school or college) with a photograph, nationalized bank pass book with photograph, or a credit card with a laminated photograph.
While booking, passengers need not pay more than the approved service charges. Service charges per e-ticket, irrespective of the number of passengers on the ticket, are as follows: IRCTC service charge of Rs. 20 and Agent Service Charge of Rs. 20 are payable for AC First Class, AC II Tier, AC III Tier Classes; Rs. 10 towards IRCTC service charge and Rs. 10 towards Agent Service Charge are payable for booking in Sleeper Class and General Second Class, apart from payment gateway charges as applicable.
The SCR spokesperson said that there are no additional charges for the printing of tickets or stationery, or the cancellation of e-tickets. If your agent demands more than the prescribed service charges, you can lodge a complaint at agentcomplaint@irctc.co.in or care@irctc.co.in, or on phone nos. 011-23745962, 011-39340000.
The SCR has asked passengers not to buy e-tickets from agents from 8am to 12 noon. The website www.irctc.co.in is open exclusively for individual users, from 8am to 12 noon.
If a passenger is found travelling with an Advance Reservation Period (ARP) ticket or a Tatkal tickets booked by unauthorized persons during the above period, his/her ticket is liable to be cancelled, and penal action will be initiated under the Railways Act.
Also, e-tickets can be cancelled through the same agent outlet without any additional service charge for cancellation. (INN)