[Resolved]  South Eastern Railways — LOWER BERTH'S vacancy was concealed

Dear Sir
On December 17th 2008 at 8.45 AM I went to Bistupur city office Jamshedpur to book a berth in AC 3 tyre in 8181 Tata Chapra Express for my father who is a senior citizen aged 81.Before going to the Bistupur city booking office I had checked up at home at 8.30 AM from the Indian Rly site regarding the total vacant berths and I found that there were 14 berths in all in the said train in AC 3 tyre on 20-12-08

As a matter of abundant precaution I had shown the choice of berth as “LB” in the requisition slip. To my surprise I was told that there were no lower berths available and I was asked if I wanted a side upper .I told the clerk I had seen 14 vacancies and asked him if out of all th 14 berths lower berths were not available. To my question I was told that the computer showed only side upper to the vacant berth. He pleaded helpless when I asked him if he could check up from the system if the 14 vacant berths included the lower berths or not.

Then with a certain degree of discomfort and grudge I asked him to book the side upper as there was no choice left before me in the light of the information provided by the booking clerk. Now the booking clerk asked me: " Would you take side lower?. I was surprised as he had denied availability of any lower berth just few seconds back. Did the clerk not know that choice “LB” (lower berth) given in the requisition slip included side lower also .Or did he wilfully misinformed just to keep side lower vacant for the touts who would pay him a premium for the same. The moot question is: If this could happen to people like me who have the wherewithal, audacity and tenacity to tell the booking clerk that such and such number of vacancies are existing as verified from the internet the plight of the common masses may be well imagined ! The reply received from the Railways may please be obtained and sent to my mail ID.
Yours sincerely
U K Singh
48 New Baradwari
Sakchi, Jamshedpur