Dear Sir,

I am a retired Lt Col from Indian Army and I have been serving ICFAI University for the last about five years as Senior Manager and presently posted in INC Alwar.
At short notice, I was suddenly required to proceed to our regional headquarters in Jaipur on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 on an official duty. I checked during the previous night i.e. on Feb 16, 2010 that there were more than 180 seats vacant in AC Chair Car in the Ajmer Shatabdi Express as per the Indian Railways website and hence I was confident of getting a ticket and one seat in ACC from Alwar to Jaipur.
Hence I reached Alwar Railway Station almost one hour in advance i.e. at about 07:45 am on Feb 17, 2010. Concerned staff in the Enquiry Office and the current booking window flatly refused to issue ticket stating that there was no seat available and the chart was already prepared.
On arrival of the above train at about 08:45 am on Feb 17, 2010, one TT of E1 couch advised me to collect a ticket of first class from the current booking window and board the train in any couch.
I again tried to do the same and the concerned staff there again flatly refused to issue any ticket whatsoever for the above train.
I then again went to another TT whose name I do not remember. I introduced myself and he informed me that though it requires to issue ticket of Rs. 1220/- but he will charge only Rs. 320/- and advised me to to sit on any seat in S7 couch.
After the train departed, TT came to me and I paid Rs. 500 note. He returned me Rs. 200/-. I expressed my inability to give him a change of Rs. 20/- and he said no issue. Thereafter I asked him to issue me a ticket, he flatly refused stating that he already informed me about it and that he can issue the ticket only on payment of Rs. 1220/-.
Since I did not have that much cash with me at that moment, I felt helpless. Although I told him that I boarded the train only after seeking his permission, but he did not budge an inch. At Jaipur Railway Station, I had to stealthily come out to save myself being victimised again.
I am feeling guilty conscious that I had to travel without ticket due to the high handedness of the concerned TT whose name I could not remember and lack of funds with me at that moment.
In view of the above, I now request you to kindly take action against the concerned TT. Further in the public interest and to curb the malpractice by the TTs in future on Shatabdi, I request suitable amendment in the rules to make available tickets so that in the event of seat not being available the same ticket may be returned and the cost refunded after suitable deduction.

This may kindly be put up to the Honorable Minister of Railways so as to avoid embarrassment to the general public in future.

I shall be extremely grateful if I could be posted with the action taken please.

With thanks and warm regards,
Sincerely yours,

OP Saxena
Lt Col (Retd)
M: 91-********00