TIRUNELVELI, SEP 26
Tirunelveli MP S Gnanathiraviam on Monday sought the restoration of two full-time PRS reservation counters and two unreserved ticket counters for the benefit of passengers.
The MP flayed that restructuring of the counters by cutting down the timings is not at all a great idea and that too in the junction which has outstanding earnings of Rs 15.00 Lakhs per day, with 10,000 passengers per day. This station also handles 100 trains – 75 Express trains and 26 passenger trains – daily.
In a press release, the MP stated that Tirunelveli Railway Station is one of the most important NSG-2 grade railway stations and revenue -wise it ranks 2nd place in Madurai Division of the Southern Railway with more than Rs 100 crore annual income. The catchment area is relatively high when compared to other railway stations in Madurai Division.
“Tirunelveli Railway Station had two full-time PRS reservation counters and two unreserved ticket counters functioning till recently. This was pretty enough to cater to the demand and needs of the Tirunelveli Junction. Recently,the divisional railway authorities merged the unreserved counters with the Reserved counters. Because of this, poor and middle-class passengers are facing a lot of problems. Especially, Tatkal ticket passengers and unreserved passengers rushing for the tickets. This has made a huge inconvenience to the people of Tirunelveli in terms of getting the tickets from the counter. Sometimes the queue would be so long that people find it extremely difficult to get the tickets on time,” Gnanathiraviam said.
He further added that “Because of this move there is a remarkable decrease in the revenue to the railways. I understand that the lower level and Tirunelveli Jn. railway officials are working overtime with some hidden agenda to stop passengers at the reservation counter. On behalf of the people of my constituency, I register my strong-worded opposition to the attitude of the Tirunelveli railway Jn. authorities’ plan for such a move.
Restructuring the counter by cutting down the timings of the counter is not at all a great idea that too in the junction which has outstanding earnings (15.00 Lakhs per day, annual earnings = 100 Crore, no of passengers dealt per day=10,000, no of Express trains handled daily=75 and no of passenger trains handled daily=26).
We request you to look into the matter and kindly ensure fair justice is done in terms of functioning of two reservation counters full time and two unreserved tickets at Tirunelveli Railway station as per the existing railway norms of IR. In addition to that the existing reservation counters for Rehabilitation and aged persons also to be continued permanently. It is highly appreciated if you could reconsider this matter positively and maintain the status quo in this regard.
