Non- Allotment of Preferred Berth by IRCTC

Location/place: VIP Road Kolkata

Name of company/service: IRCTC

This is in regard to ticket booked on irctc , dated 8th July 2012. PNR No. 6211275870 . Duronto Exp (Hwh – Pune)
I booked ticket online for my wife & I, and availability was 200. I requested for Preffered Berth ‘Side Upper’ & ‘Side Lower’.
However, inspite of availability, my wife was allotted a different Berth.

This had happened for the first time since I have been using irctc to book my tickets.
I thought it may have been a mistake on my side. So I cancelled this ticket with cancellation charge of Rs 140/-

I then refilled information, carefully this time. Ensured that I checked it was ‘Side Upper’ & Side Lower. And then another ticket was generated. PNR no. 6511276216.

Unbelievable, but it happened once again. My wife was allotted a berth in a different coupe.
I am amazed at such carelessness, on behalf of IRCTC and Indian Railways. They do not even understand the importance of a husband and wife being able to travel together.
My wife is now going to have to travel in a different berth, amongst strangers.
How sad this is.

I even called up the customer care of IRCTC and explained to her my problem. The lady called Sulekha, told me that it is not IRCTCs problem, and if I want I will go to the counter to get the berth of my own choice.

This is what our country is coming to these days.
My sister is an IAS officer, dealing in consumer affairs, and I will ensure that this incident is reported to the concerned authorities, and strict action will be taken.
I will go to the extent of filing a complain in the consumer court.

In an unsafe country like India, man and wife are unable to even travel together because of carelessness of IRCTC. This is a very grave matter.