Ticket sale: Rlys, Postal Dept sign pact

Reserved train tickets would soon be available in 32 post offices across India through the e-ticket mechanism.

To increase availability of reserved tickets in remote areas, Indian Railways today signed an agreement with Department of Posts. To start with, tickets would be available in 32 post offices, and other post-offices would be covered in a phased manner.

The Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, also sought the cooperation of the Communication Ministry for providing the facility of issuing unreserved tickets also at the post office.

Department of Posts would charge certain level of service charges for issuing these tickets – Rs 15 for second-class sleeper and sitting tickets, Rs 20 for air conditioned (AC) III tier and chair car, Rs 30 for AC II tier, first class and Rs 10 for cancellation charges (for all classes).

A memorandum of understating was signed by Mr AK Goyal, Additional Member (Commercial), Railway Board and Mr S Samant, Chief General Manager, Department of Posts, in the presence of Mr Lalu Prasad and the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mr A. Raja, here.

The agreement will be valid for a period of five years and its progress will be reviewed annually. It will be renewed after expiry of the existing agreement on mutually agreed terms and conditions.

The Railway Ministry will provide for the initial and recurring cost of hardware, communication equipment and communication channels.

The training of the staff of the India Post will be arranged by the Railways at mutually agreed locations.