A train ticket from New Delhi to Nizamuddin station in the capital, a distance of about 8 km, costs Rs 2, allows the passenger to spend the day on the platform besides undertaking the train journey.

On the other hand, a platform ticket costs Rs 3 and allows the buyer to spend only two hours in the premises.

However, according to railway guidelines, the minimum cost of a train ticket should be Rs 4 for a distance of 0-10-kilometre, Rs five for 10-15-kilometre and Rs 6 for 16-20-kilometre and so on.

A platform ticket at a cost of Rs three is considered to be the cheapest among all.

During festival seasons, the railways stop selling platform tickets to avoid unnecessary crowd at the stations.

Recently the selling of platform tickets has been stopped at New Delhi station.

However, people purchase tickets of local trains costing Rs 2 and easily enter the platform, said a ticket selling staff at the New Delhi railway station.

When contacted, Railways officials attributed the phenomenon to the reduction in the prices of traveling tickets announced recently by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in the Rail Budget.