Railways relax condition on ID proof during journey

     Bilaspur, January 11, 2013: The Ministry of Railways has made some relaxation in the condition of production of original proof of identity during train travel and particularly for the passengers belonging to the lower economic classes, officials said today.

     Under the relaxation, attested photocopy of ration card with photograph and nationalised bank passbook with photograph would also be accepted as a prescribed proof of identity only in case of reserved tickets booked through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, for undertaking journey in Sleeper (SL) and Second Reserved Sitting (2S) classes, South East Central Railway sources said.

     The photocopy of the ration card with photograph and nationalised bank passbook with photograph has to be attested by a Gazetted Officer or the Chief Reservation Supervisor or Station Manager/Station Master, they said.

     This relaxation was extended only to Ration Card and Nationalized Bank Pass Book and not in case of other types of proofs of identity cards, for which only original proof would be required during journey, they clarified.

     The above provision was not applicable for all classes of e-tickets and Tatkal tickets and tickets issued through PRS counter for travelling in Air-conditioned classes and First Class, the officials said.

     Travelling with these categories of tickets would continue to be governed by existing instructions, they added.

     The new provision would be made effective from January 15, next, Railways said.