[Resolved]  Southern Railways, E-Ticket — Re: TTE's refusal to accept e-ticket status.

From
Dr. Mahalakshmi
Chennai 600024


To
The Chief Commercial Manager,
Southern Railways,
Chennai.

Hi! my recent experience is nothing short of nightmarish. I'm Dr. Mahalakshmi,
I had booked two First class AC e-tickets from Kumbakonam to Chennai in Rockfort express on 27/01/09 for travel on 1/2/09, for me and my 83-year-old blind father-in-law. Since it was in waiting list status, (W/L 4 and 5) I arranged for EQ to be released for these tickets at Trichy. PNR [protected].

My ticket got confirmed in 2 AC, (which I came to know later through the Tanjore station master), which I was not updated at Kumbakonam because of system failure, but I had the mobile update on my pnr, which stated that EQ has been released. So we boarded the train as per schedule at 7:45 p.m. and informed the attendants about the EQ release and non listing of our names in the Firstr AC chart. We were asked to wait till TTE takes charge at Papanasam, which I did.

To my utter shock and horror, he was so indifferent and unwilling to accept the facts and refused to check out on the updated PNR status of my ticket. According to him, E-ticket was "just a piece of paper unless confirmed", and mobile confirmation was "just beyond him", he couldn't care any less. He was already thrown in as a "last minute substitute for his absentee colleague and already had his hands full." It was "none of his business to run through the pages of his chart to locate our confirmation", and if our names are not in the First AC list, then we are "traveling Ticketless."

When I pleaded that we be allowed to travel till Trichy, at least in the Sleeper class, where he could check for himself the EQ release, he said he could be penalized by the squad. Not taking into consideration that I'm traveling alone with an 83-year-old blind man, he unceremoniously dumped us in the next station, at Tanjore, threatening to penalize us if we don't comply.

I immediately brought this to the notice of the Station Master at Tanjore, who telephonically confirmed our 2 AC reservation and advised us that we could still catch the same train at Ariyalur. Since it was unsafe to travel on road at that part of the night, alone in an unknown place, and also because of my aged, blind father-in-law, I declined the offer. Also, there was no guarantee that we would reach Ariyalur in time and even if we do, we might run into the same wretched TTE, who might again confront us, I was not inclined to take the risk. So he advised us to take a local train to Trichy, where we might find some help. As for the refund of the Rs.2000/-, he said it would be automatically remitted to my A/c, as it is an e-ticket.

After much hardship we reached Trichy past midnight, and tried various trains till about
3:30 a.m in vain. Finally we were forced to take a rickety old bus to Chennai in the morning. Reached home at noon today (2/1/09).

All these 20 hours of ordeal just because of one inhuman, insensitive, technophobic , who could not flip few pages of his chart!! Why at all Railways should still have such prehistoric animals on its roll is something I fail to understand.

The story is far from over. IRTC site shows my e-ticket as confirmed, hence no refund has been made. Also please let me know why I should not take up this case with the consumer court for blatant negligence and dereliction of duty? I guess we should be entitled not just for the refund of ticket amount, but also deserve to be duly compensated by the Southern railways.

Indignant,


Dr. Mahalskshmi. W