Guwahati, May 2 (MExN): 69 Non Suburban Group – 6 (NSG – 6) category stations of NF Railway have been provided with the innovative Station Ticket Booking Agents (STBA) facility. NSG – 6 category stations are those with an annual ticket sale of upto Rs. 1 crore. A press release from NF Railway informed that it presently has 328 such stations where income is less than Rs. 1 crore. In these stations, there is no separate staff for ticket sale and the on duty Station Master is responsible for the sale of unreserved tickets to the public. Indian Railways came out with the innovative idea to engage STBAs at such NSG – 6 category stations in the year 2015. Engagement of such agents helps the concerned Station Master to devote more time for train operation, thus improving safety and punctuality, it stated. The STBA operators are allowed to sell all types of non-concessional unreserved tickets through UTS, including platform tickets and season tickets, on cash basis only. Renewal of season tickets and issue of senior citizen concession tickets are also permitted. To become STBA, the applicant should be a resident of local block/ tehsil/ mandal in which the NSG – 6 category station is located and is proposed to be engaged. He/she should be of 18 years of age and have passed matric or equivalent examination. Railways select STBA for selling tickets by observing the procedure of calling tender through newspaper and lowest commission quoted by various applicants. STBA agents get monthly commission ranging from 4% to 15% depending on sales turnover. The cost of hardware and software (including maintenance), electricity and hiring of channel are borne by the railways. The space is also provided by the railways free of cost. The initial period of contract is for a period of three years. At present, out of 69 functioning STBAs within NF Railway, 12 are located in Katihar division, 9 in Alipurduar division, 23 in Rangiya division, 13 in Lumding Division, and 12 in Tinsukia division. Appointments of more STBAs in about 67 more stations are in various stages of progress, the release added. It was informed that currently about 5.64% of passengers travelling over NF Railway purchase their rail tickets from STBAs.
