Trains Reservations
Train Train Ki Kahani
Train Train Ki Kahani
Many Indians say that India does not develop with so much corruption in the system. But, as we see, India is one of the most developing countries in the world. Moreover, it is in the TOP TEN. Many countries face the problem of corruption even a lot more than our India. For the past two decades, one could easily observe that India has achieved a lot of things in various fields like Science, Technology, Sports, Space, and Nuclear etc.
What incident now I am going to describe here is not a new thing to many of you. But still I want to present it, because it is the first situation of this type I have faced. I am a student from Roorkee, Uttarakhand. For the purpose of writing a bank exam I went New Delhi. In the return journey, I boarded the Dehradun Janshatabdi Express (DDN JANSHTBDI Train No: 2055). By the time chart was prepared my reservation status was Waiting List-6. The train contains only the Chair Cars. I positively expected an empty seat with in a while. I stood beside the door and enjoying outside view.
After a while, while the TT was coming through that way, he asked me to show the ticket. I did handover the ticket to him. He put his head in the bunch of charts and after a short interval of time said that “Waiting List Six”. I asked him for a seat. He suddenly took me to a side, and offered a seat for Rs. 150. I was surprised that my ticket costed me Rs. 97 and I had to pay nearly 150% of the fare to get a seat which was not filled at that time. An amount of Rs. 40 and Rs. 50 is ok, but think about the amount he asked. Coming back to reality, I said, “No thanks. I prefer standing.” The distance is 200 km which take normally 4 hours.
This was the same case with other two young men who were going to Hardwar. They did say the same to TT and accompanied me till I reached my destination. The TT did not have the badge bearing his name. He has a metal badge in silver colour, ‘the national emblem and beneath the letters STE were written’. So there was no chance of knowing his name at least. Even I found his name, what was the use I would get? I did not know where to complain about this. The Government employed these officials to check whether the passengers possess the tickets are not. But where are the higher officers who check these TTs whether they are doing their duty sincerely or not.
The train which I travelled runs between Dehradun and New Delhi two times a day (one trip to up and the other to down). Most of the passengers, around 70%, are usually middle class people. Except three Coaches, all the coaches are Second class. I do not know whether I am doing correct or wrong by writing this article. But I am requesting the Government and the citizens to think about this. These are the small problems which can be solved with a little effort and care. This will help many passengers to travel comfortably. Don’t forget that the passengers/customers are the source of income to an organization. I conclude this article with few lines of a verse written by Rabindranath Tagore.
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
……….,
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”
SRINIVASA RAO ADIPUDI
Date: 25th Dec 2009.
About the Author
An Indian who wishes ever last prosperity for India.
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