“Tatkal Loot: How Corrupt Railway Clerks Rob Genuine Passengers Every Day”
Corruption at the grassroots level is eating away at the very backbone of India’s public services. A recent incident at Baranagar Station (Sealdah Division) is just one example of how ordinary passengers—who play by the rules—are cheated by corrupt booking clerks. Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong and why this malpractice deserves outrage.
1. Standing in Line Since Morning Means Nothing
A passenger, token number 2, waited patiently since early morning for his Tatkal ticket. He followed every rule, every procedure—only to discover the system is rigged against him.
2. Tickets Reserved for ‘Insiders’
When his turn came, he was shocked to see the booking clerk already preparing a ticket for someone else—bypassing the queue and robbing the rightful passenger.
3. Everyday Exploitation of Common Citizens
This isn’t an isolated incident. At smaller stations, these corrupt practices are routine. Genuine passengers lose tickets, while touts and “special contacts” walk away with confirmed seats.
4. Systemic Failure, Not Just One Clerk
The tragedy is that this is not just about one dishonest official. It’s about a broken, unmonitored system where accountability is missing and corruption thrives unchecked.
5. The Real Cost: Trust in Governance
When citizens lose faith in something as basic as railway ticketing, it reflects a deeper collapse of governance. If the government cannot stop small-ticket corruption, how will it handle larger scams?
🚨 Bottom Line:
Every Tatkal scam at the counter is not just about one lost ticket—it is a slap on the face of honest, rule-abiding citizens. Unless strict action is taken, the railway booking system will continue to be a playground for corruption.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel