Procedure for EQ (Emergency Quota) in Railway Reservation
Release of Berths Under Emergency Quota
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 4606
ANSWERED ON 06.04.2018
Release of Berths Under Emergency Quota
4606 Shri Partap Singh Bajwa
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) the procedure laid down for release of berths/seats out of the emergency quota earmarked in various trains;
(b) whether cases of corruption in confirmation of emergency quota tickets by touts, allegedly in collusion with Railway officials posted in Emergency Quota Cell (EQC) have been received;
(c) if so, the details of the enquiry conducted and persons found guilty during the last three year, Zone-wise; and
(d) the locations where EQC have been set up including the number of officials posted in each of these Cells?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4606 BY SHRI PARTAP SINGH BAJWA ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 06.04.2018 REGARDING RELEASE OF BERTHS UNDER EMERGENCY QUOTA
(a): In order to meet the urgent travel requirements of High Official Requisition (HOR) holders, which includes Central Government Ministers, Judges of Hon’ble Supreme Court/High Courts of various States, Members of Parliament and other emergent demands, who are on the waiting list, a limited number of berths have been earmarked as Emergency Quota in different trains and in different classes. The quota is released by the Railways in accordance with the priority as per warrant of precedence and well established practice being followed since long. At the time of allotment of berths/seats, emergency quota is first allotted for self travel of HOR holders/Members of Parliament, etc., strictly as per their inter-se seniority in warrant of precedence. Thereafter, other requisitions received from various quarters are considered and the remaining quota is released taking into account various factors like status of passengers travelling, nature of urgency like travelling on government duty, bereavement in the family, sickness, job interview, etc.
(b): No, Sir.
(c): Does not arise.
(d): Emergency Quota Cells are located at Zonal/Divisional Headquarters and at some of the important non-Headquarter stations. These Cells normally function under the control of a gazetted officer supported by requisite number of staff posted by Zonal Railways. The number of staff posted in each such Cell varies according to the workload.