Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation [IRCTC] — Tickets and seat allocation complaint

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www.irctc.co.in

I traveled with my 70 year old grandmother in the train 16860 on 03/01/2015. It was a Tatkal booking.PNR: [protected]. We were allotted the seats S9 9, S9 12. We traveled from Kodumudi (KMD) to Chennai Egmore (MS). We boarded the train around 7.30 PM in KMD station but the actual arrival time is 6.45 PM. As soon as we entered the train, we do not have space to even stand in our compartment. Around 12 people were sitting in the compartment where our seats were allocated. After a very long conversation, we got seats to sit among those 12 people. Except 2 in that 12 member crowd, other 10 members were not a perfect ticket holders. The hold an open ticket to Trichi(TPJ) either from Coimbatore (CBE JN) or Erode (ED). I was waiting for the TTR to come to make our berth free so that my grandmother can rest for some time. But that did not happen till we crossed Karur (KRR) around 8.30 PM. There was a fight between a couple who had confirmed berths and the open ticket holders in Karur Junction for more than 15 minutes where a lady (she was with her family of around 6 members. She do not hold a confirmed ticket) mentioned she is a Railway Employee she can do what ever she wish and some indecent words and threatened the couple. The worst conversations happened. I wondered whether we have any RPF or TTR allocated to this train! None came. Is there any point in Indian law stated like, Police and TTR should help only Government employees? If so, please mention in the response to this complaint. Finally a SQUAD came after crossing Karur. He was just verifying whether all the passengers had tickets. That's it. It was like an unreserved coach. He came with an RPF for his safety I guess. When I enquired him why many people who do not have a confirmed ticket, travel in reserved coaches and we, the people who have confirmed tickets are not even able to sit properly. The response from the SQUAD was amazing. He mentioned like, this is the first time he is seeing an issue like this. Also, the train is intended for sitting till Trichi (TPJ) and only after Trichi(TPJ) it is a sleeper. Even if it is intended for sitting, is that allowed for people who take open tickets? Also the squad mentioned like passengers should solve their own problem like issues in seats and all, they should not depend on TTR/SQUAD or RPF. I am confused then whats the role of TTR/SQUAD or RPF. Just a free journey in AC coaches? - There is an exception for this. There are many TTR / RPF who are perfect in their work. Finally we reached Trichi(TPJ) around 10 PM and all those who owned an open ticket reached their destination. And the people who had confirmed berths just got to sleep. Now TTR came after 10.30 PM. I do not remember the actual time when he came. He checked the details and left. My questions: 1. If there is no sleeper facility available till Trichi (TPJ), why Indian Railways allows Tatkal tickets/confirmed berth tickets from the stations before Trichi (TPJ) station? I was able to book Tatkal tickets from KMD to MS. I wonder why they allow the open ticket holders in the sleeper coach even if the berths are booked in that particular coach. Is it a new way of making money to the Government or to the TTR? Its completely cheating the public who try very hard to book a confirmed berth in any train in Tatkal. 2. I boarded the train around 7.30 PM and TTR came around 10.30PM. So it that like anyone can travel in those coaches till Trichi (TPJ). This is not happening for the first time. I travel often in the same train. TTR will always come after Trichi (TPJ). If it is the case, why should I spend my money for Tatkal booking from my own place. I can book from Trichi (TPJ) to Chennai Egmore (MS) and till Trichi (TPJ) I can have an open ticket and travel? Can Southern Railways accept this? I am not the only victim of this situation. There are around 216 passengers in the 3 coaches S8, S9 and S10. Will we be getting any solution for this issue or will it be only in mails? Expecting your faster valuable response with a permanent solution for this. Thank You!