MMTS tickets double up as platform tickets

Bengaluru-native Venkat Raman had gone down to the Secunderabad Railway Station this week to bid farewell to one of his colleagues, who was leaving for New Delhi.

On his arrival, he diligently went to purchase a platform ticket but was shocked when he was asked to shell down Rs 10 for it.

When he narrated his disgust over the cost of the platform ticket and how it would impact the middle-class segment that frequents stations more, his colleagues cited instances on how street-smart people were hoodwinking the railway authorities at their own game.

Many individuals chary of spending ten bucks for a few minutes of emotional farewells on the platform have already found a paisa-vasool delight-buy an MMTS ticket for Rs 5, which is the minimum fare, spend time on the platform and coolly walk out of the station. This, in effect, translates to saving on fifty per cent of the original cost! In fact, there are some erudite individuals who actually spend the other five rupees in the nearest GHMC-sponsored common man canteen to have a snack.

It’s not uncommon for the aam aadmi to indulge in such measures, wittingly or otherwise, as the lacuna has been provided by the railway authorities themselves.

In an outrageous decision, fares of the platform ticket were doubled from the existing Rs 5 with effect from April 1. This was ostensibly aimed at regulating the crowd, other than regular commuters, at major terminals. If this was not enough of a shocker in itself, divisional railway managers have been empowered to increase the platform ticket charges beyond Rs 10 for peak seasonal occasions like fairs and festivals.

The ingenious passengers, however, have been quick to spot the irony of the situation. They know that no one can object to them walking on to the platform, armed with a ticket for Rs 5. It may sound unethical but is perfectly legal.

However, a railway employee at Kacheguda station was quick to point out that this was the case even in April 2012.

“At that time, when the platform ticket fare was hiked from Rs 3 to 5, commuters used to purchase the Rs 4 MMTS ticket. It was only when the MMTS fares were increased a few months later that people started purchasing platform tickets. Now everything will be back to square one,” he said.

Meanwhile, a South Central Railway (SCR) official expressed grouse that nothing can be done currently to penalise people.

“Legally, we can’t take any action unless there is a change in the policy. We have to refer this to the Railway Board and get the go-ahead to revise MMTS fares,” he opined.

He is unaware that it will have serious ramifications because once such an exercise is embarked upon the railways will be rubbing the shoulders of thousands of MMTS regulars on the wrong. The ‘victims’ are sure to hit the streets nay tracks against the ‘anti-people’ decision.

No marked difference in earnings

Prior to April 1, SCR’s average daily sale of platform tickets was 35,822. According to figures from the previous fiscal, this included the issue of tickets at Secunderabad, Kacheguda, Hyderabad and Vijayawada. In monetary terms, the average daily earning was put at Rs 1, 79,110.

In the current financial year, the SCR is averaging around 36,921 tickets every day, which is an off-shoot of the exorbitant charges one incurs on road travel, which is also less safe as recent instances reveal.

Currently, around 12,000 tickets are being sold at Secunderabad, 2,500 at Hyderabad and 1,500 tickets each at Kacheguda and Vijayawada. The total earnings per day are about Rs 1, 88,001.

Contrary to apprehensions, there has been no major loss of revenue for the railways as such considering that the sale of MMTS minimum fare tickets have registered a substantial increase though the passenger-occupancy rate may not have, on any given route.

Despite the devious mechanisms of the people, it is the SCR that is having the last laugh!