Pay 20 for platform ticket

Hyderabad: Planning to see off a dear one at the Secunderabad Railway Station be prepared to shell out an additional Rs 10. The South Central Railway (SCR) raised the cost of platform ticket from Rs 10 to Rs 20 for a period of ten days starting from October 17 to 26.  

The decision however is not going down well with thecitizens. Rahul, a software employee said, “My wife who works in Benguluru visits us often and this increase in fare is not good.”

According to official sources the Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) are empowered to increase the rate of platform tickets during special seasons and occasions such as fairs and rallies.

Making use of this special powers, the SCR authorities decided to hike the rate of platform tickets to deter large number of people thronging the station to see off their relations during the festival period. Noor, general secretary, Suburban Train & Bus Travellers Association says, “It is an additional burden on the public.

The railways should beef up its security rather than increase the price of platform tickets. The authorities might have taken the decision as many people accompany the passengers especially those going to Haj and Sabarimala.”

M Umashankar Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer, SCR said, “It is for a temporary period to curtail rush on the platform. There is heavy rush during this season. The hike is not to increase revenue but to reduce congestion and overcrowding. It is only a deterrent.”

Ironically, a Rs 5 ticket entails a passenger to travel for 14 km in a local train and an MMTS ticket is cheaper than a platform ticket.

The SCR authorities have been in quandary on these issues. A senior railway official said that we know about the anomaly but the changes to fares can happen only after approval from the Railway Board.

Social activist Ramanamurthy says, “In India there is this culture of whole families going to send people off. It is high time that this culture changes as our railway stations were built long time ago but populations has grown by leaps.”  

The software has been modified and for the temporary period, officials added.