‘Give option to select multiple boarding points in bulk train ticket bookings’

Chennai: Members of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) have raised concerns over a limitation in bulk train ticket bookings that restricts flexibility for passengers. Under Indian Railways rules, a person can book up to six tickets at once under a single PNR and select one boarding station. However, all passengers in that booking are assigned the same boarding point, and any change can only be made for the entire group, not individually.This becomes an issue when passengers in a group wish to board the train from different stations. For instance, if six tickets are booked for Bengaluru, but some passengers want to board at Chennai, others at Tiruvallur and the rest at Arakkonam, the system does not allow such changes. Officials say this is considered a violation of existing rules.K Bhaskar, a DRUCC member, said, "Allowing multiple boarding points would make travel more convenient, the committee has put forth a request to the railways regarding this issue."He added that recent changes, such as allowing passengers to modify their boarding station up to 30 minutes before departure, show that the system can be made more flexible.Responding to the issue, railway officials said the issue has not been widely raised before. They said it would be escalated, as any change would require a policy decision at the national level. Now, passengers sometimes request the TTE, who may allow boarding from a different station in certain cases.