Booking a railway ticket through the IRCTC website has never been a easy experience but a sting operation done by IBN7 has revealed a massive racket in which passengers are being fooled by travel agents.
It shows how more than 2 lakh railway tickets under the Tatkal quota are booked by travel agents in a matter of 30 seconds leaving almost nothing for the others trying to book tickets through the site.
Indian Railways,IRCTC,rail tickets,travel agent
During the sting operation, the team tried to book tickets on the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express from Delhi to Chappra. Within five minutes of logging on to the IRCTC website, a payment was initiated. However, the website got hung.
After logging in again to book the tickets, 144 seats had been booked, all this just within a matter of seconds.
Here is the transcript of the conversation between our undercover reporter and a travel agent.
Agent: You will have to pay 500 more than the ticket price. You will get a confirmed seat.
Reporter: Will it be an E-Ticket or from the counter?
Agent: It will be an E-Ticket. You must be having an id ?
Reporter: Yes
Agent: If you have an id proof there will be no problem.
Reporter: Can you give me some discount?
Agent: I cannot give any discount. There is a lot of crowd. I cannot give any discount.
Reporter: I need 4 tickets?
Agent: It does not matter that you buy 4 or tickets. Price will not change. You need ticket for day after tomorrow?
Reporter: I need for 9th October.
Agent: Which train?
Reporter: I will prefer Bihar Sampark Kranti.
Agent:Chapra?
Reporter: Yes.
Reporter: How do you manage to book the ticket. It is no possible for us to book from home.
Agent: You won't be able to do it.
Reporter: Why?
Agent: The seats are filled in less than 30 seconds.
Reporter: You have some special technique? When we try it does not happen.
Agent: You won't be able to do it. If everyone can do everything, then what is the need for us?
Reporter: You will book the ticket or will someone else do it?
Agent: I will get it done from someone else.
Reporter: OK
Agent: You need a software for this. We book the ticket with the help of that software.
Reporter: Which software?
Agent: There is a software for tatkal. Then we take help of internet banking. It doesn't happen just like that.
Reporter: Can you show me the software?
Agent: I don't have it with me right now. Software costs Rs 6000.
Reporter: You will the details after 11 right?
Agent: No, we fill the details before 11 and then tickets are booked with just 1 click.
Write
a comment ...
