In a stark comparison to the average bookings done at existing Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centres in the city — at ISBT-17 and railway stations — the response to the recently opened PRS counters at post offices across the tricity has been rather poor.

With the anticipation of matching the average number of 180 passenger bookings per day by each staff member (which is presently recorded at ISBT-17 and Chandigarh railway station), the average booking could not exceed even 15 at some of the postal counters.

Even the maximum number of bookings done per day at GPO-17 (General Post Office) was less than 50 per cent of the average bookings recorded at PRS centres.

While the total forms booked by each staff at PRS centres per shift of eight hours are around 130, the monthly form bookings for the month of September was the lowest at one of the most visited places in Chandigarh — PGIMER. This revenue earned from the initiative has left the railway authorities disappointed.

“The project could not achieve the expected response. It was an initiative taken by the railways after much consideration and analysis. Seeing such a poor response, the plan to open more centres has been shelved,” said Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Ambala Division, Karan Singh.

While the railway authorities who had opened these counters to offload the rush at existing PRS centres are claiming a lack of awareness among the residents about these counters, the residents have a different assertion. “The extra charges charged per form at the postal reservation counters are not justified. Also, extra cancellation charges per form are charged from the postal counters. Thus, it is better to book the ticket from PRS centres only,” said one of the residents after getting his ticket booked at ISBT-17.

... contd.