Wed May 28 14:16:01 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article version:
**Summary:**
The Cauvery Delta Train Passengers Association (CDTPA) is urging Southern Railway to improve the ticket purchasing experience for passengers in the Cauvery Delta region of India, particularly in districts like Thanjavur. They are concerned that the push for online ticket purchases is disadvantaging rural commuters who are not comfortable using mobile applications. The Association is requesting more cash-only ticket counters during peak hours and improvements to the UTS mobile ticketing system, which currently prevents users from booking tickets within a certain proximity to the railway tracks. The CDTPA suggests that the railway can use real-time location tracking to prevent ticketless travel without inconveniencing legitimate passengers.
**News Article:**
**Cauvery Delta Passengers Demand Better Ticketing Options, Cite Digital Divide**
**THANJAVUR, May 28, 2025** – The Cauvery Delta Train Passengers Association (CDTPA) is calling on Southern Railway to address challenges faced by commuters, particularly those in rural areas, when purchasing train tickets. The association highlights the growing reliance on online ticketing and its impact on passengers who lack the skills or access to use mobile applications effectively.
“While digital ticketing is convenient for some, it’s leaving many behind,” said V. Jeevakumar, secretary of the CDTPA. He noted that ticket booking counter staff often prioritize online payments even during peak hours, leading to delays and missed trains for passengers from districts like Thanjavur.
The CDTPA is urging Southern Railway to increase the number of cash-only ticket counters, especially during morning and evening rush hours, to accommodate commuters unfamiliar with mobile ticketing.
Furthermore, the association has raised concerns about the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) mobile application. Currently, users are unable to book tickets if they are within 100 meters of the railway tracks, a restriction intended to prevent ticketless travel. However, the CDTPA argues that this rule unnecessarily inconveniences legitimate passengers waiting at train stations.
To address this, the association proposes a system that utilizes real-time location tracking within the UTS app. By monitoring a user’s movement and comparing it to train schedules, the railway can effectively deter ticketless travel without penalizing those seeking to purchase tickets legitimately.
The CDTPA hopes that Southern Railway will consider these recommendations to improve the overall ticketing experience for all passengers in the Cauvery Delta region.
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