In the grip of quota

THIS year, the travelers hoping to obtain tickets for rail and road to visit their loved ones during the Eid holidays are facing a new phenomenon. Going by newspaper reports half of all bus tickets sold are reserved for privileged people like ministers, politicians, frequent travelers and government employees. So, 750,000 out of 1.5million travelers who traditionally use road links to visit home districts will have to find alternative means of transportation. Aspirants hoping to take a more leisurely route by rail are also in for a similar surprise. Here too about 38 per cent the tickets on sale are reserved under various quotas, which come into full force during Eid holidays.
The question really is why privileged persons such as people's representatives should be blocking such a large portion of tickets on public transportation like railway? It is a slap on the face of the thousands of ordinary citizens braving the long queues from early morning in the hope of getting hands on a means to travel home on such an important occasion. For the common man with his limited income, there is no other option but to travel either by bus or train, can we say the same for the privileged V.I.P.? While booking the first class and cabins for dignitaries can be excused, the blocking of such a high percentage of seats is completely inexcusable. It opens the doors for sale of tickets on the black market but more importantly, increases the woes of ordinary travelers who must find alternative, albeit much more expensive means of travel to get home.