Emergency quota berths:Complaints received against touts, says railways

New Delhi, May 8: Railways today said it has received some complaints alleging connivance of touts and railway officials in confirmation of berths out of emergency quota.

Informing this in Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha in a written reply said such "stray cases of irregularities brought to the notice are enquired". To ensure transparency in allocation of quota, procedures have been prescribed which has to be followed by all concerned, the minister said.

"Further, regular, preventive checks, including those on trains, are conducted by commercial, vigilance departments for verification of the passengers who have been allotted confirmed accommodations out of the emergency quota," he said.

Railways on an average release emergency quota of approximately 65,000 berths, he said. To a separate question, he said they are aware of prevalence of cartels in supplying materials to railways and circulars are being issued from time to time for steps taken to check it. They include reporting the matter to the Competition Commission of India.

PTI