After July 15, give your address proof to get season pass for Mumbai locals

After Allahabad HC ruling that passengers should update railways of their residential data, Indian Railways presses on with the plan; will figure out a format for the form

Your season pass for the suburban railway network is likely to become a strong identity proof, as far as the government is concerned. After the Allahabad High Court directive to take address proof from people commuting in trains, the Indian Railways intends to collect personal information from its 75 lakh local train commuters in Mumbai as well.

Commuters will soon have to fill in a form with their address details before they apply for the pass. Representation pic

On April 19, mid-day had reported about an initial proposal to this effect (‘Now, file a requisition form for your season pass’). Since then, the Indian Railways has fleshed out the plan and is expected to release a format for the forms, which the Central and Western Railway authorities need to follow.

The Central Railway (CR) is planning to begin keeping forms at its various stations across Mumbai, which will have to be filled by commuters before they renew or buy the season passes. The undertaking would be something similar to a bank’s Know Your Customer (KYC) form, with details like Name, Address, Age and Sex, which needs to be mentioned and then submitted at the ticket counters.

Moreover, if a person changes his residential address, the railways needs to be updated about it. “We will then issue an acknowledgement in the form of a stamp of some kind on the season pass or ID card, which will indicate that the person has fulfilled this undertaking,” said a senior CR official.

Sources said that these details would be documented, and can be used in case of any untoward event, or if security agencies like the local or railway police need details about certain people.

The CR authorities are waiting for the specified format to be announced, before they begin keeping the forms at railway stations. The Western Railway officials will wait for the Railway Board to reply and give a detailed view on the court directive, before they begin any process.

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