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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4219 Posts |
 Posted - 11/03/2009 : 18:36:44
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No platform ticket for SOFT card holders
TNN 3 November 2009, 10:16pm IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/No-platform-ticket-for-SOFT-card-holders/articleshow/5193549.cms
ALLAHABAD: The SOFT (Scheme for Frequent Travellers) card users of the Railways are no longer be required to buy the platform tickets while frequenting the railway stations.
Instructions to this effect have been issued by director, passenger marketing of Railway Board, Monica Agnihotri to all chief commercial managers of zonal railways through a letter dated October 16, 2009. The letter stated that suitable guidelines be issued to all concerned to allow free entry to SOFT members to station platforms.
Further, the letter stated that, Railway ministry wants suitable guidelines be issued to senior divisional commercial managers/divisional commercial managers for the implementation of the same. A suitable mechanism may be devised for dissemination of this information so as to ensure awareness among the ticket checking staff and the officials, the letter added.
SOFT is being managed by IRCTC through its website -- www.irctc.co.in -- and is valid for all AC classes except AC-3 tier. Passengers willing to avail the scheme can obtain the cards by paying a registration fee of Rs 551 for one year. A membership card called `Shubh Yatra' card will be issued to each member and will be valid for two years. The member is awarded points in proportion of the fare paid by him and 10% of the total amount paid by him during January 15 to March 31 and July 15 to September 15 during off season and 4% of total amount paid during April 1 to July 14 and September 16 to January 14 during peak season. Every point will be equivalent to Rupee one. The points will be awarded to fully paid cash/card tickets. Shubh Yatra card holders must be one of the passengers in case of family/party. Points can be redeemed only after collection of 500 points. Member, relations/friends can be included in the complementary ticket when the points are redeemed.
However, the reality is that the ticket checking staff are generally ignorant about the SOFT scheme and there is need to create awareness among them regarding this scheme.
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No platform ticket for SOFT card holders
