Railway Ministry restores 'telescopic' benefits

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) Bowing to vociferous demands from the travelling passengers, the Railway Ministry today decided to restore the ''telescopic'' benefits in end-to-end fares with effect from June 15.

Prior to April 1, a passenger under the Computerised Passenger Reservation System, could purchase tickets for stations even beyond the destination station of the train, thus availing telescopic benefits on the fare.

For example, a passenger could purchase a ticket from New Delhi to Madurai, travel up to Chennai by a direct train and subsequently by another train to Madurai.

It was also possible to book tickets on this train through different stations while still availing telescopic benefit.

The telescopic benefits available to passengers earlier were withdrawn on April 1.

''These benefits will now be restored with effect from June 15 on public demand,'' a ministry official said.

Andhra Pradesh Passengers Association President S S Krishnaji had earlier sent a telegram to President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, expressing shock at the Railways' dispensing with the practice of telescopic method of calculation for long-distance passengers who are required to change trains at stations.

Elaborating, Mr Krishnaji said a passenger travelling from Kakinada to Mangalore had to purchase two tickets -- one from Kakinada to Chennai and another from Chennai to Mangalore -- as he/she has to board West Coast Express at Madras Central.

Consequently, fare has increased by Rs 150 for Sleeper class and nearly Rs 400 for AC three-tier.

''It is tantamount to cheating to collect extra fare without including it in the Railway Budget,'' he had pointed out in his letter.

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