Concerns fly as Southern Railway collects phone numbers from passengersSouthern Railway in Chennai began collecting mobile numbers from unreserved passengers buying or renewing season tickets, sparking privacy concerns. While this information was previously collected from reserved passengers for alerts, this is the first time it's being demanded from unreserved commuters, causing significant opposition. Passengers claim they were forced to provide...
more... their numbers, which were manually recorded without proper explanation. Railway users' committees criticized the move as a violation of privacy, questioning the lack of official orders and data protection measures. The railway spokesperson justified the collection as gathering basic information for subsidized season tickets, but didn't address privacy concerns. Notably, over 7 lakh passengers in Chennai use season tickets, with the highest number issued between Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu. The Chennai division sees over 11.5 lakh passengers daily, with majority of them traveling from surrounding areas like Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Vellore. Critics demanded proper explanation and data protection guidelines, highlighting the need for transparency and passenger rights.
Chennai mein, Southern Railway ne July 1 se unreserved passengers se unke mobile numbers collect karna start kar diya hai, jo season tickets buy ya renew karne ke liye counters pe aate hain. Isse privacy ke bare mein bahut sawal uth rahe hain. Pehle, sirf reserved passengers se online aur offline...
more... dono tarike se mobile numbers collect kiye jaate the, text alerts bhejne ke liye. Leikin, pehli baar, unreserved commuters se yeh information maangi ja rahi hai, jisse unme bahut virodh hai. Passengers ka kehna hai ki unhe apne 10-digit mobile numbers dene ke liye majboor kiya ja raha hai, jinko ticket counters pe commercial staff manually record kar raha hai aur yeh keh raha hai ki yeh mandatory hai. Railway users’ consultative committees ke members ne is move ki criticism ki hai, aur kaha hai ki yeh railway board ke ‘verbal’ instructions par chalne ka ek aur example hai, bina kisi official order ke. Unka argument hai ki counters pe bina proper explanation ke aisi basic details collect karna passengers ki privacy ka ullanghan hai.Leikin, Southern Railway ke official spokesperson ne kaha hai ki is exercise ka purpose passengers se basic information collect karna hai, jo subsidized prices pe season tickets use karte hain. Official ne privacy concerns ka jawab nahi diya.Chennai ki kaafi working population Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, aur Vellore se train services ke dwara city tak aati hai. Chennai division har roz 11.5 lakh passengers ko transport karta hai, jinme se almost 660 daily services chalta hai. Phone number details collect karne ke reason saaf karo: AssnIn sections me 7 lakh se zyada passengers season tickets use karte hain, aur Chennai Beach - Chengalpattu section mein sabse zyada first-class season tickets issue kiye jaate hain. Chennai division mein season tickets 160 km tak ke liye issue kiye jaate hain.Tiruvallur Rail Passengers Association ke K Baskar ne isko unreserved passengers ke saath railways dwara ki ja rahi mistreatment ka ek aur example bataaya. “Officials ko mobile numbers collect karne ke reasons explain karte hue ek proper order issue karna chahiye, aur passengers ke data ko protect karne ke liye strict guidelines bhi honi chahiye.” Unhone yaad dilaaya ki Tiruchy division ne counters pe tickets reserve karne ke liye e-payment insist kiya tha, aur cash accept karne se mana kiya tha.Zonal Rail Users Consultative Committee ke member R Pandiaraja ne pucha, “Railways ko yeh explain karna chahiye ki yeh information collect karne pe aise kyun insist kar rahe hain.”Southern Railway ke ek official ne kaha, “Season tickets non-transferable hain. Mobile number basic information hai aur isko collect karne mein kuchh bhi unusual nahi hai.”
