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Online lower berth facility not available for pregnant women
After introducing preference for senior citizen and pregnant women in allocating lower berths amid fanfare, the Indian railway online booking portal has introduced a rider for the latter group: the facility will not be available online for pregnant women; instead, they will have to book the ticket from the counters to avail the option.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
“For reservation of pregnant women traveling alone under Lower Berth/Senior Citizen quota, booking facility is available only at Indian Railway’s booking counters/reservation services,” reads the message in the booking portal.
Confirming the restriction, a senior railway official said pregnant women – or the one booking on her behalf – should produce a doctor’s certificate or similar proof from the doctor certifying that the passenger is pregnant at the time of booking ticket.
“I could have availed the facility for my pregnant daughter in a few minutes, had there been an option online. But by the time I booked the ticket at the counter, tickets were over,” complained A Franklin of Moolakadai, criticising the condition that this quota could be availed only in person.
“It is not fair to create such hurdles, especially for pregnant women. They can take a declaration from the traveler online, and the TTE can verify the details on board,” said V Rama Rao of Traffic and Transportation Forum, adding that they have planned to petition the divisional railway manager in this regard.
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