By Apurva Bhatt

From April 1, platform tickets will cost double the current price of Rs 5. In addition, Divisional Railway Managers have been given the authority to raise it further to regulate the crowd during heavy rush such as ‘rallies or mela’, according to a recent railway board circular.

The move is to reduce the congestion at major stations and to earn additional revenue by charging those who come to receive or see their friends or relatives off.

Ravi Patil a commuter, said “Rs 10 for a platform ticket meant that the ticket counter staff would no longer bother users for want of change. “Many times they refuse to give us tickets if we don’t have Rs 5. This will stop,” he said. “The railways want to avoid unwanted entry of people. But today Rs 10 is not a big amount. How strictly this is enforced will have to be seen,” said Rajesh Pawar, another commuter.