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In a   move to prevent misuse of Reserved Train Tickets and reduce cases of travelling on transferred tickets, Ministry of Railways has decided that anyone of the passengers/the passenger booked on the ticket issued from computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS counters) and Internet (i-ticket) undertaking journey in AC-3 tier, AC-2 tier, 1st AC, AC Chair Car and Executive Classes willhaveto  carry one of the nine prescribed proofs of identity (in original) during the journey.  The passengers of these AC classes would be required to produce the Identity Card in original as and when required failing which all the passengers booked on that ticket will be treated as without ticket and charged accordingly.  However, the Identity Card (in original or its photocopy) will not be required at the time of purchase reserved AC tickets from PRS counters or i-ticket.  These instructions are valid for all categories of trains, with the above mentioned classes of travel.

These fresh instructions are in addition to the existing instructions under which the passengers with Tatkaltickets and e-tickets are already required  tocarry original proof of identity during the course of Railway journey.  In case of Tatkaltickets, self attested photocopy of the Identity Card is required at the time of purchase from the PRS counters or Identity Card details (Number etc.) are to be entered at the time of purchase from internet.

These instructions will come into effect from 15th February, 2012.

A message on this count will be indicated on the ticket issued in the above said classes through computerized PRS/I-ticket.

Centerfor Railway Information System (CRIS), an organization under Ministry of Railways, has been asked to make necessary provisions in the software.

The list of valid proofs of identity are as under:-

1.   Voter Photo Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India.
2.   Passport.
3.  PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department.
4.  Driving License issued by RTO.
5.  Photo Identity card having serial number issued by Central/State Government.
6.  Student Identity Card with Photograph issued by recognized School/College for their students.
7.  Nationalized Bank Passbook with Photograph.
8.  Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph.
9.  Unique Identification Card “Aadhaar”.

Government has set up an inter-ministerial coordination committee for Tourism Sector under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister to resolve inter-ministerial and industry issues and promote tourism. Shri Pulok Chatterji presided over the first meeting of the committee in PMO on 19.1.2012. Secretaries to Government of India of important ministries were present. Sh Chatterjisaid tourism should be seen as development: it should be pro-poor and focus on employment creation. He emphasized the need to give tourism a major fillip during the 12th Plan so as to more than double the number of foreign tourists arriving in India and further encourage domestic tourism.

Some of the important decisions taken in the meeting were:

• A sub-committee under consisting of Member Secretary, Planning Commission, Culture Secretary, Secretary (Environment and Forests), Secretary (Rural Development) and Secretary(Tourism) will identify the potential of tourism in rural, eco and cultural sectors in the country and submit its report within four weeks.
• MOEF should finalise its eco-tourism policy at the earliest possible duly analysing the feedback it has received from different quarters.
• It is imperative that all local stakeholders are involved in promoting eco-tourism.
• Ministry of Culture should adopt a pro-active tourism policy which should promote Museums, cultural and heritage sites, besides monuments. There should be close inter-face between MOC and MOT.
• MHA to take steps to facilitate extension of Tourist Visa on Arrival to GOA, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bengaluruairports within next one year.
• A coordinationCommittee consisting of Joint Secretaries of MHA, MEA and MoTconstituted to resolve day to day visa related complaints.
• In order to promote vocational courses related to tourism it was decided that MHRD will accord High Priority in including maximum schools under the scheme.
• The initiative taken by Ministry of Tourism through Hunarse Rozgarscheme was appreciated by the Committee. It was noted that tourism related activities should become an integral part of relevant poverty alleviation programme of the Ministry of Rural Development including NREGA.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will utilise the funds available under Central Road Fund (CRF) in consultation with concerned State Governments in 13 States in February, 2012 where the roads have already been identified.
• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways will undertake development of essential road infrastructure in the tourism circuits either from its own fund or Central Road Fund.
• Ministry of Defence (Border Road Organisation)at Gangtokand Lehroads which are tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Union Tourism Minister, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, has urged the people to join clean India campaign in large numbers. Inaugurating the 3-D show related to the campaign at India Gate in New Delhi today, the Minister said that every section of the society should join this campaign to promote India as a major tourist destination.

Shri Sahai said students and young people should come out in large numbers to promote the message of clean India. He said that 3-D show being held today should be organized in other parts of the country. A large number of school children also attended the show.

The response to Air India “Get Lucky Offer” aimed at it on-line customers has been very good and the web sales of the airline has gone up with 36 winners against web bookings made on January 9, 2012.

Sales figures of web bookings show an average increase of 23 per cent for January 10, 2012 compared to the average sales of December 2011. While the total web sale for the month of December 2011 was 97.8 cr averaging Rs 3.26cr per day, the web sales on January 10th, 2012 jumped to Rs 4.01 cr, an increase of 23 percent over the average sale of December 2011.

The names of the 36 winners of the sale for January 9, 2012 have been put up on the airlines website and can also be viewed by clicking the link – http://home.airindia.in/SBCMS/Webpages/get_lucky_offer.aspx?MID=23

In a move that will bring cheer to air travelers, the national carrier Air India has introduced “Get Lucky Offer” for its web based customers. The scheme will be valid from 9th Jan 2012 to 31st March, 2012.

Under the “Get Lucky Offer” every 100th ticket will win a return complimentary ticket on the domestic network of Air India. Winners will be notified on the online Booking Confirmation page while booking an Air India Flight as well as communicated individually by email and a list of the winners would be put up on the Air India website daily by 12 noon (IST) on the following day and the weekend (Sat/Sun) winners will be notified on Monday. Passengers can look up the list by clicking on “List of winners of the 100th free ticket contest” on the homepage of our website .

• The email authority for the complimentary ticket would be valid for a period of one month after the completion of at least one coupon of the originally booked international journey i.e. the ticket on which the lucky winner was declared.
• If the original booked travel was for domestic travel the entire journey must be completed.
• The complimentary ticket will be issued by any Air India booking office on production of e-mail, ID proof and all boarding cards of his previous journey based on which the ticket was granted.
• The Basic Fare and Airline Fuel Charge will be absorbed by Air India and all applicable taxes will be borne by the passenger on the complimentary ticket which will be valid for six months from the date of issuance and can be availed for any direct flight on the airline’s domestic (within India) network.
• Hopping or connecting flights will not be permitted.
• The award Ticket will be non transferable and non re-routable.
• No FFP points will be accrued on the complimentary ticket travel.

Cox and Kings Ltd, the longest established travel company in the world since 1758, Headquartered in India,  is offering an affordable and exciting holiday experience with three European holiday packages ‘European Anubhav’, ‘Advitya Europe’ and ‘ Darshaniya Europe’. The packages are affordably priced, starting at Rs. 1,39,900, Rs. 1,68,999 and Rs. 2,24,999 respectively – The packages are all inclusive wherein a customer doesn’t need to pay a single extra rupee..

European Anubhav:

• A 12 Days / 11 Nights package at a price of Rs. 1,39,900 per person on twin sharing basis
  Tour includes visit to United Kingdom, France, Brussels, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy
• Package includes return airfare, accommodation, Marathi speaking tour manager, all meals, all sightseeing, all entrance fees to theme parks and museums, visa and taxes, tips per day and oversees insurance as mentioned in the itinerary

Advitiya Europe:

• A 15 Days/14 Nights package at a price of Rs. 1,68,999 per person on twin sharing basis
  Tour includes visit to United Kingdom, France, Brussels, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy
• Package includes return airfare, accommodation, Marathi speaking tour manager, all meals, all sightseeing, all entrance fees to theme parks and museums, visa and taxes, tips per day and oversees insurance as mentioned in the itinerary

Darshaniya Europe:

• A 19 Days/18 Nights package at a price of Rs. 2,24,999 per person on twin sharing basis
  Tour includes visit to Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and United Kingdom
• Package includes return airfare, accommodation, Marathi speaking tour manager, all meals, all sightseeing, all entrance fees to theme parks and museums, visa and taxes, tips per day and oversees insurance as mentioned in the itinerary

For more information, call 1800221235/ 18002090400, 9867565599.

Cox & Kings operates in 20 countries through branch offices, subsidiaries, representative offices, franchised sales shops as well as through our global network of sales agents.

The company has 13 branch sales offices in India located in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Pune and Goa. The company has appointed over 100 franchisees across 20 states covering 70 cities. The company’s extensive network of 185 GSAs and PSAs covering all major towns and cities of India enhances its reach.

Cox & Kings is amongst the largest players with its range of specialist options. Innovative packaging, pricing and marketing have been the hallmarks of its success over the years. Among its many products are Leisure Travel- Domestic (Bharat Deko), Inbound & International, Corporate Travel, MICE, Trade Fairs, Visa Processing and Foreign Exchange.  The Outbound Tours is segregated into Duniya Dekho (escorted tours), FlexiHols (customised tours), Luxury Escapades (unique & luxurious travel) & NRI (catering to Indians across the world).

For further media details, contact:

• Thomas C Thottathil, AVP – Corporate Communications; thomasct@coxandkings.com
• Praneeta D’Souza, Sr.Manager – Corporate Communications; praneeta.dsouza@coxandkings.com