KOCHI: The railways have done away with the practice of asking passengers to attach a copy of the address proof every time they renew their season ticket.
Hemraj Meena, PRO, Indian Railways, said that in a recent circular it had clarified that when a season ticket holder goes for renewal, there is no need for a copy of the identity card or address proof.
But during renewal commuters will have to submit an undertaking that they will not indulge in any anti-social or unlawful activities or commit any offence while travelling on season ticket failing which their season ticket maybe cancelled and need not be issued again.
The season ticket is issued for a month or three months.
Many commuters say the ticketing staff are yet to follow the instructions.
"At most stations the staff still insist on copy of address proof to be submitted along with the undertaking. Senior railway officials told us that four days ago they had issued a circular to all the stations that there was no need to do it while renewing season tickets," said Sony George, a daily commuter from Koratty to Ernakulam. Commuters had raised this issue with V C Sudeesh, senior divisional commercial manager, Southern Railways and Rajesh Chandran, area manager, on Thursday and they informed that the same has been communicated to the staff.
Things have not really changed despite the circular. "Within 10 minutes I went to Ernakulam North station and the lady at the ticket counter insisted that I give a copy of the address proof. I immediately called up the railway area manager and only after he intervened, they issued the season ticket without proof," said George.
Commuters told TOI that the railways should discontinue the practice of asking for an undertaking or address proof every time they renew the season tickets. "This will not serve any purpose. Or else they should maintain an online record of the season ticket holder. In other cities like Mumbai, to travel by suburban trains, one does need to go through this cumbersome process,'' said Rajesh Menon.
A railway official admitted that these documents are stacked up in cupboards for few years. "There is no system to verify whether the details provided in the undertaking are true," said a railway staff.