IRCTC glitch denies fare sops to disabled

30.10.2016, NAGPUR: Even as Railway Board extended concession to disabled passengers booking tickets online, they are unable to avail the facility due to technical errors in IRCTC website.

On April 3, 2012, TOI was first to highlight the issue about no concessional online railway tickets to physically challenged passengers.

While such category of passengers availed concession on tickets while booking from PRS counters, online passengers were deprived of the benefit. However, owing to pressure from various quarters, Railway Board extended concession to disabled persons booking tickets online on March 19, 2015.
Such persons desirous of availing e-ticketing facility had to get an identity card from commercial branch of respective divisions by submitting original medical certificate, two photographs, ID proof and age proof.

However, in some cases, it was observed that physically challenged passengers booking online tickets were not getting concession due to name mismatch though the system accepted ID number issued by the railways.

Physically challenged Janhavi Deepak Ambarkhane, a Nagpur-based computer engineer working in Pune, said, "I booked ticket on October 16 for travelling to Nagpur on November 6. Though the system accepted my ID issued by Central Railway, it flashed a message -- 'name mismatch'. Hence, I was unable to avail concession."

Ambarkhane complained to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation's (IRCTC) customer care and also talked over phone but there was no response.

IRCTC PRO Sandeep Dutta based in Delhi suggested to book the ticket with name Janhavi DA to overcome name mismatch.

However, after IRCTC suggestion Ambarkhane could book the ticket. But she asked, "This is undesirable. When I'm issued valid card (000720) the system should accept it. How will a passenger know about it?"

Mismatching of name is also against Railway Board circular issued on December 17, 2015 which itself states that while booking tickets invariably full name should be mentioned to avoid misuse.

She demanded that IRCTC should make adequate space in online form for providing complete name so as to comply with Railway Board guidelines.

Ambarkhane said she was forced to book ticket by paying full fare without seeking concessions available for physically challenged passengers due technical glitch.

Ambarkhane also observed that she and her escort is entitled for 75% and 50% rebate in AC-II & AC-I fare but there appears some discrepancy and she had to pay some extra amount.