CHENNAI: Rail passengers who prefer to purchase paper reserved tickets at railway counters to e-tickets, can now book paper tickets over phone at Yatri Ticket Seva Kendras (YTSK), private ticket booking counters in the state.
The Yatri Ticket Seva Kendras (YTSK), is a computerised passenger reservation system (PRS)-cum-unreserved ticketing system (UTS) facility authorised by railways functioning at selected locations where railways could not provide PRS counters.
The kendras are provided with the required infrastructure and facilities that are on a par with the railway PRS counters and will have to abide by the rules followed by railways.
However, owing to the ever-increasing demand from rail passengers and YTSKs association, railways have decided to relax the norms in booking the paper tickets.
“Unlike railway PRS counters, YTSK can now book reserved tickets for the passengers by taking the details over phone without any reservation forms. However, before handing over the tickets, they should get the letter of confirmation for booking the tickets,” said railway sources quoting the railway board order issued a few days ago.
The change which came into effect on Monday, is expected to benefit rail commuters who travel frequently with more than four family members and elderly people as they have to book the tickets only at counters.
E tickets through IRCTC website, mobile app and IRCTC authorised travel agents over phone, passengers are allowed to book maximum four passengers in a single PNR.
“Those passengers who go for pilgrims and family tours have to book tickets at counters as there was no restriction on number of passengers. In addition to this, elderly people prefer to book tickets at counters as chances of getting lower berths will be higher,” explained railway sources.
YTSKs are allowed to charge the passengers ` 30 a ticket for sleeper class and ` 40 a ticket for AC class booking.
However, to prevent malpractices YTSK will be allowed to book tatkal tickets 30 minutes after takal bookings open for general passengers.
Regular ticket bookings are allowed between 9 a.m and 10 pm, and tatkal tickets can be booked 30 minutes after opening of the tatkal bookings at 10.30 am for AC class and 1130 a.m for sleeper class tickets.
There are about 38 YTSK centres functioning across Tamil Nadu. Southern Railway is planning to add more YTSK centres across the State.