Hyderabad: Failure on the part of railways to provide an online facility to the citizens to transfer their confirmed train ticket to the name of their family member has left the scheme with not many takers.
Only 518 people availed the scheme in 2015 from Secunderabad railway station while the number is at just 34 in Vijayawada. The major complaint against the scheme — which allows “transfer a confirmed ticket to the name of any of your family member” or among government employees or students — is that the candidate in whose name the ticket has been originally booked has to go in person to the railway reservation supervisor 24-hours before the scheduled departure of train and provide family proof.
“This scheme has been there from 2011. The intention of the Railways is good but officials should re-work and an provide online facility. More people will use if online facility is provided,” said Mr Prabha Shankar, in a feedback letter to the railways, after transferring his ticket a couple of months ago.
A. Surya Rao of Pioneer Travel Agency said the facility is useful when someone else in the family decides to travel. “For example, if Mr X cancels his travel plan, it is not sure that the travel by Mr Z of the same family would be of use. The facility is useful in case of marriages as presence of any one member of family is crucial,” he said. An SCR spokesperson said they have been receiving feedback and requests for an online facility. The requests will be forwarded to the Railway Board for consideration.
