The Travelling Ticket Examinee

Indian Railways , the lifeline of millions of Indians, connecting the whole length and breadth of the country for over 150 years seems to be treading on a new path of professionalism and service, something which is bound to earn it more kudos than what it is receiving just now.

I was traveling from Chennai to Bangalore the other day (I had a reserved ticket) and found a TTE very different from the usual ones we meet on the train. A very professional man- he was pleasant in his attitude and very helpful to the passengers. At the start of the journey he wished everyone a very pleasant journey. (The very first time I have heard a TTE say that) and when he went around examining the tickets he made it a point to wish us goodnight. I was very surprised to see a TTE being so courteous. The TTE was also multi-lingual talking to people in their respective mother tongues with elan. When the time came for the allotment of extra tickets he strictly followed rules and allotted tickets to the right person instead of following the usual practice TTE's follow of giving the ticket to the highest bidder. When some people tried to grease his palms he was curt with them and told them to just wait their turn.

I have traveled quite a lot and this was about the first time I actually found a TTE so professional and service-oriented. It is about time Indian Railways get more people like this TTE, for it to grow and for us to have a pleasant journey.

As an afterthought, some female hostess like the ones in airplanes might also serve the cause..