Commercial Department lends helping hand to Halt and Ticketing Agents in distressOfficers & Staff voluntarily contribute Rs. 3.70 Lakh to 74 agents

Commercial Department lends helping hand to Halt and Ticketing Agents in distress
Officers & Staff voluntarily contribute Rs. 3.70 Lakh to 74 agents

The Commercial Department of  Vijayawada Division, South Central Railway, has mobilised Rs. 3.70 lakh from Officers, Inspectors and entire Goods, Parcel & Booking staff of the Division to help STBAs (Station Ticket Booking Agents) & Halt Agents tide over the existing crisis in wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The sum collected has been distributed to all 74 STBAs and Halt Agents working at various stations across Vijayawada Division. Each Agent received Rs.5000 from concerned In-charge, Supervisor, Inspector at their respective serving stations today i.e. 18th June, 2020.

STBAs and Halt Agents work round-the-clock at wayside Railway Stations to issue tickets to rail passengers. Their source of revenue is the commission, which they get from sale of the tickets. In the wake of COVID-19 crisis, Indian Railways has cancelled all the regular passenger services to curtail the spread, which resulted in loss of income source for the Halt agents and Station Ticket Booking Agents. As a mark of Good will gesture Staff of Commercial Department has come forward generously to support & alleviate their burden during such times of crisis.

Shri P. Bhaskar Reddy, Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager, Vijayawada commended the staff for display of empathy and generosity by coming forward in support. He thanked each and every staff of Commercial Department for standing beside with firm resolve and voluntarily contributing to the noble cause by just a single call. “Such virtuous deeds will definitely boost their morale and self confidence to bounce back from the hardships faced due to the current lockdown”, he added.

Shri P Srinivas, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada complimented the Officers and staff of Commercial Department for taking a good and timely initiative of helping the agents serving Vijayawada Division who are in desperate situation. He also advised that other employees who are interested to show their gesture to help the needy persons may come forward with such ideas in these critical times.