Assistant Station Masters (ASMs) who also dispense tickets at small way side stations have a reason to cheer.
The Ministry of Railways has decided to engage Station Ticket Booking Agents (STBAs) at small stations so that ASMs solely focus on their safety related responsibilities, that is,train operations.
Hence, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has decided to engage Station Ticket Booking Agents (STBA) at NSG 5 & 6 categories of Stations.[NSG category 5 stations are non suburban stations which earn between one crore and Rs 10 crore per annum. Those earning up to Rs one 1 crore are classified as NSG 6 stations]
These agents will receive a commission on the sale of tickets. The selected STBAs will sell unreserved tickets through computerized Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS).
In ECoR, STBAs have been provided in 132 Stations out of 233 NSG-5&6 Stations.
For other stations, STBAs may be engaged. Applications will be called for through Notification to engage STBAs. The applicant must be above 18 years of age and should have passed minimum Standard X.
ECoR will engage the STBAs from the residents of local block/tehsil in which these stations are located.
The number of counters in a station for engaging STBA will be assessed by IR authorities through a committee comprising officers of Commercial, Operating and Accounts Departments.
The computerized Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) will be provided by Railways with maintenance facilities, electricity and hiring of channel along with free space.
The STBA operator will be allowed to sell all types of non-concessional unreserved tickets through UTS, including platform tickets and season tickets and their renewal.
Issue of Senior Citizen Concession Tickets will also be done at this UTS Counter operated by STBAs.
All other concessional tickets requiring documentary proof before issue of tickets can also be issued by STBA after permission from the ASM concerned.
Benefits
Passengers will not have to wait in queues as dedicated STBAs will be available for ticket selling.