Mumbai: This has happened to many of us: We log on to the Indian Railway's website to book a tatkal ticket but the site fails to open. Not willing to take a chance, we rush to buy a confirmed ticket at the booking counter in the railway station, but none is available. But as if by magic, the friendly guy hovering near the counter offers to get us a confirmed ticket. Of course, we have to pay double the actual amount, at times even more. But then, we are so thankful for the favour and so elated at not having to miss that urgent conference or the must-attend family function that we don't mind paying the extra money. Touts have taken over the reservation system in the Indian Railways. More than a decade after online reservation was introduced so that people could get rid of the long queues and rude booking clerks, the common man still has to slug it out to buy a confirmed ticket. It's a well-oiled network in which all stakeholders - touts, travel agents, railway officials and policemen - make money, except the hapless traveller, who is left doubly poor. Agents loot passengers openly but authorities are mum.
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