Station Ticket Booking Agent – STBA

Station Ticket Booking Agent – STBA

In today’s post, we will discuss Station Ticket Booking Agents – STBA, We will discuss what STBA is, how STBA is appointed/selected, and How much commission STBA Agents get per month.

What is the full form of STBA ?

The full form of STBA is Station Ticket Booking Agent.

Focused station for STBA

For STBA, targetted stations are ‘NSG-5’ and ‘NSG-6’. Even ‘SG-3’ stations are now being targeted for STBA. Stations mainly where Station Managers are involved in issuing tickets are focused on STBA. Once STBA is selected they will be involved in issuing Computerised Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) under the supervision of on-duty Station Managers. Generally, where STBA is selected, Panel and Ticket Bookings are done in the same room. In this way, on-duty Station Manager can actively monitor STBA.

At stations where STBA is appointed, booking clerks are not posted. The entire ticketing activity is carried out by STBA agents.

Selection of STBA

• The applicant must be a resident of the district or division, in which the station is located where STBA is to be appointed. For this residential certificate is required.
• The applicant must be 18 years of age and must be 10th pass. Though Sr.DCM of concerned division can relax the education criteria.
• Selected candidates shall provide police verification certificate.
• Any previous experience is always welcomed.

Process of Application of STBA

• Application from eligible persons will be called through newspaper.
• Application should be submitted along with earnest money of Rs.2000 / –
• The selection of STBA shall be done through tender committee of 3 assistant scale officers ( commerce, finance and operating department officials)
• The candidate who opts for least commission (in 4% commission slab) on monthly sales turn over shall be engaged as STBA.
• If more than one applicant quotes the same rate, the selection will be based on the draw of lots.
• Security deposits also need to be deposited by the STBA to the railway account. The amount of the Security deposit will be mentioned the notice. In general, the applicant is required to pay on selection Rs. 10000/- for NSG-6 and Rs.25000/- for NSG-5 & SG-3 category of stations as a refundable security deposit (interest free)(irrespective of the number of shifts for which STBA is being engaged) shall be deposited by the selected STBAin form of Money receipt or Fixed deposit.
  

Operating Procedure of STBA

• The cost of Hardware & Software (including maintenance), Electricity & Hiring of Channel will be borne by the Railways. The space will also be provided to them by the Railways free of cost.
• STBA ,however, if he so desires, may nominate additional persons for sale of tickets. Additional number of persons which can be nominated shall be decided by Sr. DCM/DCM based upon the quantum of ticket sale at the station.
• STBA shall not sublet/assign or transfer the right obligations arising out of the agreement.
• In case of death of agent, his/her legal heir(s) will be allowed to act as the STBA for the unexpired period of the agreement by the comptent authority.
• Both the STBA and the additional persons, if any, nominated by him/her to sell tickets shall be issued photo identity cards by the concernedSr.DCM/DCM and their name(s) shall also be displayed on a notice board at the station premises.
• The STBA operator shall be allowed to sell all types of non-concessional unreserved tickets issued through UTS including platform tickets and season tickets, on cash basis only.
• Zonal railways can also authorize payment through POS/Digital modes at such locations keeping in view the local conditions.
• Renewal of season tickets and issue of senior citizen concessional tickets shall also be permitted.
• All other concessional tickets requiring documentary proof before issue of ticket, can also be issued by STBA only when endorsed and permitted by the SM/ASM/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor concerned, which shall be done prior to the sale of such concessional tickets.
• The facility of NI (Non –issued) ticket will be available to the STBA only when authorized/endorsed by the concerned SM?ASM/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor.
• Cancellation of ticket: The facility of cancellation of the ticket may be extended to STBA only when authorized/endorsed by the concerned station master/Assistant Station Master/ Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor before hand.
• Money receipts, TTECash, Parcel cash etc. can be remitted at the STBA counters only when authorized/endorsed by the concerned Station Master/Assistant Station Master/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor beforehand. However, the revenue so received shall not be accounted for in the monthly turnover of the station, for the purpose of calculating the commission for STBA.
• STBA shall deposit the cash collected through the sale of tickets, to the concerned Station Master/Assistant Station Master/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor of the station on duty on 8-hour shift basis as prevalent on that station.
• All concession orders should be handed over to the SM/ASM/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor alongwith cash and cancelled/NI tickets. Failure of the STBA to do so shall result in the collection difference of fare to be recovered from the STBA.
• If the ticketing activity stops due to the non-availability of STBA or due to his/her negligence resulting in non-functioning of equipment, a penalty equal to the average daily turnover from the sale of UTS tickets from that location, subject to a minimum of Rs. 2000/- per day shall be imposed. Penalty upto Rs. 500 may be imposed against established public complaints regarding the functioning of STBA.
• The Railway officer in charge of the station i.e. Station Master/ Assistant Station Master/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor shall be responsible for the safe custody of the ticket rolls and it shall be his duty to handover/takeover the ticket rolls daily from the STBA. Proper record of ticket rolls issued to the STBA shall be maintained at the stations.
• Shift summary and details of daily summary of transactions handled by STBA shall be extracted throughputs and the STBA shall deposit the cash accordingly to the Station Master/Assistant Station Master/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor at the end of the shift.
• A consolidated statement of ticket rolls supplied and details of tickets sold by STBA shall be submitted by the Station Master/ Assistant Station Master/Supervisory Booking clerk or Reservation Supervisor or any other nominated officer to DCM/Sr.DCM every month.
• Zonal railways shall have powers to prescribe working guidelines within the framework of this scheme. The Railways shall also frame an agreement to be signed with STBA based on these policy guidelines and as per provisions of Chapter –X of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 and in consultation with the concerned Departments on the Railways.
• In case STBA expresses inability to operate the counter(s) after his/ her selection by Zonal Railways, the security deposit furnished by him shall be forfeited and deposited in Railway accounts as per the procedure.

Commission of STBA Agents

The Commission of STBA agents will be mentioned on the notice. Generally, it is done on a commission basis. Slabs of commission change from time to time. A sample commission SLAB is provided below.