Now you will be able to access free Wi-Fi on several trains. You can also book tickets through mobile phones.
Now you will be able to access free Wi-Fi on several trains. You can also book tickets through mobile phones.
These are some of the proposals in the Railway budget that the UPA laid out on Tuesday keeping in mind the aspirations and needs of the middle class and upper middle class passengers. Indian railways have an estimated 2.3 crore passengers everyday. The majority of this, around 1.9 crore passengers, travel unreserved.
But the passenger amenities in the budget are tactfully targeted at wooing those who travel on reserved tickets, who constitute only around 40 lakh of the railway passengers. The expected passenger growth in 2013-14 is 5.2 % , while expected passenger revenue is Rs42, 210 crores.
The much needed reform in Internet booking is on the list. By the end of the year, next generation e-ticketing system is proposed to be in place. While today the system only supports 2000 tickets per minute, once done, the system will be able to support 7200 tickets.
It will also support 1,20,000 simultaneous users at any point of time against the present capacity of just 40,000 users. Internet ticketing hours will be extended from 12:30am to 11:30pm, SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status will be rolled out and larger number train users will be able to access information through the net and mobile phones.
Other amenities include first aid facilities at platforms, facilities to contact staff on board trains through sms, phone call or email for real time feedback on certain trains, 8-10 mechanised laundries for washing linen, bio toilets and concrete aprons on platforms with mechanized cleaning facilities. 104 stations serving a population of more than one million will get immediate attention on all aspects related to cleanliness and 60 stations would be upgraded as Adarsh Stations in addition to the 980 already selected. A new coach, named Anubhuti, would be introduced in select trains which will provide excellent ambience and latest modern facilities and services.
'Yatra Parchis' are to be allocated for those travelling by rail to Vaishno Devi shrine and also to be introduced is an educational tourist train with concessional fares called 'Azadi Express' to connect places associated with the freedom movement. Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending machines (ATVMs), Coin-operated Ticket Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sewaks would be extended.
There are also some proposals to make travel safer for the differently-abled passengers. 179 escalators and 400 lifts would be available at A1 stations along with braille stickers to indicate layout of coaches. Wheel chairs, battery operated vehicles would be available at more stations and coaches that are wheel-chair friendly.
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