E-tickets seized, ER's Howrah Division arrests 23 persons

KOLKATA: The Howrah division of Eastern Railway has arrested 23 persons and seized 190 e-tickets including live e-tickets worth around Rs 5.65 lakh and cash worth Rs 83,000.

The raids were conducted simultaneously in Howrah division. The raids were conducted under Mission Tatkal. It is a drive initiated by the Howrah division to curb touting. Instead of using government approved IDs, these agents use multiple personal IDs to buy e-tickets in bulk and charge a premium. As a result, hundreds of people do not get Tatkal tickets on IRCTC site. Thus, the passengers have no other options but to buy Tatkal tickets from the agents. The RPF Howrah division will continue the drive to put an end to the malpractice.

The drives on Friday were conducted by 13 teams of the RPF division, who conducted raids simultaneously at Ambikakalna, Bandel, Bally, Chandanpur, Howrah North, Howrah Central, Koilaghat, Sheoraphully, Nabadweep, Burdwan and Nalhati.

Some of the agents against whom action was initiated are KGN Communication and Internet World Deara, Burdwan, Hallo Centre, Bansberia and Raj Rajeshwari Travels in Rishra among many others.