Priority to wait-listed Tatkal tickets in EQ

Priority to wait-listed Tatkal tickets in EQ

The railways have gone one step ahead in making the emergency quota (EQ) system more responsive and commuter-friendly by giving priority to wait-listed Tatkal tickets.

Henceforth, wait-listed tickets purchased from travel agents will not be considered for allotment of seats and berths under EQ, according to the new railway guidelines. This is aimed at preventing misuse of EQ and to ensure that its benefits reach needy commuters.

The directive follows a decision of the railways to make the EQ facility more commuter-friendly and to provide senior citizens and the needy priority during allocation of lower berths and to open a helpline. The EQ facility has so far been confined to stations from where trains originate, major stations and divisional headquarters.

Senior Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram, V.S. Sudheesh said the railways had received an overwhelming response from commuters for the initiative.

“Requests for EQ from the offices of elected representatives and officials have come down drastically all of a sudden, and the railways are getting requests from the needy now. We are acknowledging requests mailed to us (seniordcmtvc@ gmail.com),” he said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, officials have been directed to ensure that the warrant of precedence and guidelines on allocation of EQ are followed strictly. Mails are being checked regularly.

The helpline number, 0471-2326484, which is available from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays for EQ assistance will now be extended to Sundays soon, he added.

Wait-listed tickets purchased from travel agents will now not be considered for allotment of seats and berths under EQ

Source:The Hindu