To extend the benefit of online reservation to bona fide special passengers and stem the misuse of concessions by unscrupulous ones, Chakradharpur has become the first division under South Eastern Railway (SER) to initiate the process of issuing exclusive identity cards.
Spokesperson and senior divisional commercial manager of Chakradharpur Satyam Prakash said their new drive was expected to reach out to both physically challenged and mentally retarded passengers.
"In the past, we received complaints on misuse of railway concession provided to those who are differently abled. The unique IDs will prevent ordinary passengers from availing of benefits that are not theirs. Moreover, the coded cards will allow special people to book tickets online, which they couldn't so far," he said.
Elaborating on the process to procure the special IDs, the senior railway official said applicants would have to submit the available form along with a medical certificate issued by the civil surgeon's office.
"A railway commercial inspector will be deputed to verify medical details provided on the form with the civil surgeon's office. Only after physical verification, the special ID cards will be issued," Prakash said, adding that it would take a couple of weeks to complete the whole process from the date of application.
Each railway ID will bear the name, address and type of disability of the person it is issued to, besides a key registration number. By producing the card, bona fide special passengers can book tickets over the counter as well as online. The cards will have a validity of five years.
A senior official of SER's commercial department at Tatanagar said as of now, the special ID was not mandatory. "But, it will be made so in due course of time. We will soon start a campaign for special passengers to tell them about the benefits of the card."
At present, differently abled passengers get 75 per cent concession for travelling in sleeper class and AC-III and 50 per cent in AC-II. The benefits are extended to one attendant accompanying such a passenger.
An official at Chakradharpur said they had already received over 200 applications from Tatanagar and other stations. "The applications are being verified after which IDs will be issued to bona fide passengers," he said.
Tatanagar station manager O.P. Sharma confirmed that Chakradharpur was the first railway division under SER to come up with the idea and implement it. "Every day, we are receiving dozens of enquiries about the cards. Several special passengers have applied from Tatanagar," he said.
Amit Kumar, who works at a government office in East Singhbhum, said he was definitely in online queue. "It is great news! I can now book my tickets sitting at home. Earlier, it was always over the counter for us," the 29-year-old said.
