As per the PARA - 3(vii) under the head - " Conditions of Entitlement "of Schedule II of PASS Rules:

  • If TWO or MORE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES are avaliable, for a destination, such passes may be permitted by either (anyone) route irrespective of distance involved.
  • If the distance of a destination via longer route preferred by Railway employee does not exceed 15% (Fifteen Percentage) compared to Direct Route or shortest route, such passes may be issue.
Example 1:

 PURNA (PAU) to PATNA (PNBE) Via Itarsi (ET), Moghulsarai (MGS)

 In above case, pass is not valid because between PURNA (PAU) and ITARSI (ET) we find 5 routes :

 Via - Adilabad (ADB)
Via - Akola (AK) & Khandwa (KNW)
Via - Akola (AK) & New Amaravati (NAVI)
Via - Akola (AK) & Nagpur (NGP)
Via - Manmad (MMR) & Khandwa (KNW)

 For the eligibility of pass in this example,
Railway Employee need to select above ONE Via between Purna (PAU) & Itarsi (ET) to cancel all other routes.

 Example 2:

 SECUNDERABAD (SC) to TIRUPATI (TPTY) Via SECUNDERABAD (SC)

 In above case, pass is not valid because between SECUNDERABAD and TIRUPATI without mentioning Via because
we find 4 Via routes :

 Via - Kazipet (KZJ) & Vijayawada (BZA)
Via - Nalgonda (NLDA) & Guntur (GNT)
Via - Kurnool (KRNT) & Gooty (GTY)
Via - Raichur (RC) & Guntakal (GTL)

 In above 4 Via routes, direct trains available and so everyone opt for pass directly mentioning Secunderabad to Tirupati without Via and so they can utilize the pass in all 4 routes. 
But as per rule, 
Every Railway Employee must utilize the pass in 1 route.
For that purpose, they must compulsory mention 1 via or 1 break journey if they find two or more alternative routes in between 2 stations to cancel the all other routes.

 For the eligibility of pass in this example 2, 
Railway Employee need to select above ONE Via between Secunderabad & Tirupati to cancel all other routes.