Stroll in and out at ease: Nobody to check tickets on platform

INDORE: Buying a platform ticket to enter platform at railway station is obligatory. But checking tickets does not appear to be a priority for railways! So it looks from the way many people could be seen moving in and out of the station without ticket. Those who buy tickets religiously to gain entry into station curse themselves for wasting Rs 5.
A reality check by this scribe exposed lackadaisical attitude of railway officials in carrying out their duty and letting free movement of people in and out of the station.As the scribe moved freely for more than couple of hours inside railway station, there was none to question her and ask for platform ticket.
Shalini Verma, a student, who frequently comes to station to drop her father, who commutes between Indore and Mhow, said, "I was particular about buying platform ticket earlier, but later I found that buying a ticket was wasting money. And since then I stopped buying platform ticket."
While another citizen Amit Bandi, a businessman said, "Normally when I used to come to see off any my friend or relative at the station I used to buy proper platform ticket even for the people who came along with me to see off or receive, but no one asked for the ticket." I had to rush to meet a friend arriving in the city. I just did not bother thinking that no one asks for platform ticket, but same day, there was surprise check and I had to pay the fine."
Also, people have to stand in queue along with passengers buying tickets to travel in general compartment. "Long queue puts off people from buying platform tickets," railway sources said, adding railways has outsourced sale of platform tickets to a local vendor, who allegedly sells it for Rs 7.
Indore Railways Passenger Association president Pravin Mahendale said, "The lapse is big in terms of security. Railway station has many entry and exit points giving scope for people to walk in and out without platform tickets and unchecked. Railways is laidback regarding platform checking drive and only conducts when any officer or VIP guest comes. Similar is situation at Dewas and Ujjain railways stations."
While another member of passenger association Anil Doli said, "Railways always suffer from staff crunch and therefore they cannot regularly keep these checks." Ratlam Division PRO Jitendra Kumar Jayant accepted there were multiple entry and exit points and people can enter without tickets. "There is a problem of security at the station and we are planning to do something regarding metal detectors and security services soon." However, he remained silent on failure to check platform tickets.