In a first, Railways begins mobile ticketing facility at Udhna station

After complaints from passengers, the Western Railway authorities started mobile ticketing facilities at passenger holding areas at railway stations.

Sources in the Western Railway division said that the six clerks were deputed at the passenger holding areas at Udhna Railway station. Each clerk carries a tablet connected with a printer, which is linked to the railway server. The passengers can buy  general tickets to their destinations from the mobile facilities by paying in cash.

Western Railway sources said over 1,500 general tickets were sold through the six mobile ticketing facilities on the first day.

According to Railway sources, over 56,000 passengers have traveled from Surat city in  recent days in various trains to UP and Bihar from Udhna and Surat Railway stations.

The Railway officials  said the initiative will be extended to nearby railway stations, if needed.

On Wednesday, eight trains departed from Udhna Railway Station for UP, Bihar, and Jharkhand, carrying thousands of migrant workers from Surat.

Sources said RPF and GRP along with Surat city police have made elaborate arrangements to control crowds at Udhna and Surat Railway stations.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) including its acting president Ashok Jirawala, chairman Dr Vijay Radadiya and co-chairman of its liaison committee Atul Patel, met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and requested him to operate more festival special trains between Surat and Saurashtra.

1,600 special buses from Surat

The Gujarat State Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has announced plans to operate 1,600 special buses from Surat to different parts of Saurashtra, Panchmahal and North Gujarat from October 16 to 19 to clear the festival rush.

With the school and college examinations ending Tuesday, people hailing from Saurashtra and Panchmahal and working in Surat have started travelling to their native places to celebrate Diwali with their families.

“Under the ST Aapna Dwar scheme, 250 buses have been booked by people living in residential colonies to travel to their native places in groups. People travelling in groups to a single destination can make use of the facility,” GSRTC Divisional Director P V Gurjar said.

“This year we are running a record number of 1,600 festive buses. Last year, we operated 1,400 buses, transporting 90,000 passengers from Surat to Saurashtra, Panchmahal, Dahod, and North Gujarat between October 16 and 19, generating a revenue of Rs 3.50 crore,” he said.