Southern Railway eases norms for bulk ticketing on many trains

The Southern Railway (SR) has relaxed the conditions for booking tickets in bulk, especially the ceiling on number and availability of tickets. People can now book more than 50 per cent of tickets in second sleeper or 1/3rd in other class of coaches (AC). Any number of tickets can be booked in the same coach in mail/express, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto or Garib Rath trains. The SR has issued fresh guidelines for bulk booking, which could be done in all classes even if the ticket availability is in waitlist or RAC status henceforth.

In his circular dated December 17, 2019, Deputy Chief Commercial Manager of SR, A Sundar has instructed the commercial departments of all the divisions in the zone to withdraw the competency and limit currently in vogue for permitting bulk reservation. Chief reservation supervisor or station managers have been authorised to permit bulk reservations.

Going by the revised guidelines, bulk reservation applications would not be entertained if the applicant does not specify the purpose of the journey. CRS and SMs permitting the applications have been instructed to maintain a register recording all the details of bulk bookings granted. Bulk booking would be permitted from 9 am at major locations.

However, bulk booking applications must be made directly with the competent authority. Bulk booking through travel agents would only be permitted for foreign tourists/NRIs. The relaxation would allow group booking of return journey tickets at the same reservation office, irrespective of the Passenger Reservation System on which the train is defined.

CRS and SM have also been instructed to affix their seal and signature on the reservation application form and on all pages bearing the passenger name list. Existing (passenger) name change rules would also apply to bulk booking. In the event of name change, it must be recorded in the bulk booking register.