Get confirm train ticket at a 10 % discount

Amit Srivastava
There is a horrible time for people to get confirmed train tickets during the festival or special occasions. People have to shell out extra money to get confirm berth under the Tatkal quota. Even chances of getting confirmed tickets under Tatkal quota is very less. The agent charges an additional Rs1000 and even more to stand in the queue the whole night outside the booking counter for tatkal ticket booking.
Railways run special trains at dynamic fare wherein the cost of the ticket shoot up to Rs 9000 to Rs 10000 per ticket in third AC gradually.
However, there is good news as you can get a ticket at a discount also. There is a slack period during the year when the ticket is available at discount.
This is something surprising but yes, the railways offer a 10% discount on base fare for tickets available at the last moment or after the first charting. Normally, the first chart of the reserved ticket is prepared before four hours of train departure.
If there is berth available even after the first chart is prepared, the railways put these seats on current availability at a10% discount on base fare. However, such occasions are very rare especially in busy routes and in popular trains. But, keeping a tap can help to get confirm berth at discount also.
The railways keep some of the seats reserved for different quotas like defense, cancer patients, government agencies and ministries. However, most of the time, especially in the lean period, these seats are unused.
There is no fixed formula to track the actual availability of berths after the first chart is prepared. However, a little calculation will help you. During the lean period, tickets in tatkal are not fully booked and if the normal waiting list in Third AC is below 10, there is a chance that you can get confirm berth after the first chart.
Like, on December 16, the train number 13202 (LTT RJPB Exp) has around 128 seats available at 10% discount fare. The actual fare of Rs 1720 for LTT to Patna. But, the ticket was available at Rs 1555 in current booking after the first chart.

SAFETY OF COMMUTERS AT SKYWALK

Amit Srivastava

With frequent complaints of robbery and theft in skywalks across Kalyan, the Thane police have written to Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to illuminate skywalks properly and shut those which receive few or no footfalls at midnight.

Dattatray Karle, additional commissioner of police, Kalyan said that they have discussed the problem with the KDMC and the civic body agreed in principle to take necessary measures. “We have also written to KDMC authority to illuminate all skywalks properly and suggest which skywalks should be closed at midnight,” said Karle.

He said that except skywalks directly connecting to the railway stations, there are skywalks that have little or no footfalls at midnight. “I have suggested closing such skywalks during the night as precautionary measures,” said Karle. He added that citizens can use footpath instead of skywalks at midnight which have normally less traffic.

Last month, the crime branch arrested two persons who had allegedly robbed a hotelier who was walking through the skywalk connecting Kalyan railway station to ST Bus depot near Kalyan railway station. Though the incident took place in April 2018, police could have arrested the two robbers on May 28 as there was no CCTV footage and no one saw the incident. They had robbed Rs 2500 from hotelier by showing sharp edge weapons.

Police said that it is not possible to depute police at every skywalk during the night. “As police officials have to go to other places as well, it is difficult to put them at skywalks round the clock,” said Karle. However, he added that he has also suggested KDMC put CCTV cameras in all skywalks as safety measures.

Even citizens and commuters feel unsafe during the night. Many commuters complaint about the presence of drug addicts during the night. Amarjeet Singh, a resident of Bhandup who works as a bartender in Kalyan said that while returning home from work in the midnight, he often sees drug addicts occupy the skywalks. “Since I am young, I can protect myself. But it is not safe for senior citizens and women safer” said Singh.

Sapna Koli, city engineer of KDMC said that they have received letter from police. “One day back we received letter from the police. The letter is regarding close skywalks which are not used frequently during midnight,” said Koli. She added that the electrical department will be informed to initiate measures to make skywalks safe through proper illumination. However, she added that it will take time to close the skywalk during the night.

Another civic official said that a survey will be required to check which side of the skywalk is not used during midnight and accordingly, a decision can be taken.

Recently, the KDMC had carried out an audit of skywalk connecting to the Kalyan railway station with IIT Bombay. The audit included a detailed inspection that involves machinery and manpower. The audit is supposed to help KDMC to know the actual damage in the skywalk. The civic body spent around Rs 14 lakh on the audit.