Railways to go mobile post Budget

Feb 26, 2013

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Bengaluru: The Railway Budget for 2012-13 has been announced, and while prices have been marginally hiked, the government has finally decided to embrace technology to help out the common man. The Railway Police Force (RPF) helpline will be merged with the All India Passenger Helpline, to ensure a better security mechanism is put in order.
The budget also states that SMS-based tickets on the passenger's mobile phone will be accepted as proof of valid reservation, just like a screenshot of an eticket, along with valid ID proof such as PAN card, driver's licence, voter ID card, or passport.
However, if the device runs out of juice and isn't powered on during boarding and alighting the train, the passenger will be deemed to be travelling without a ticket. However, that's not where the power of your mobile phone ends. The ministry has also announced the "Book-a-meal" scheme, wherein multiple choices on meals will be provided through SMS or email. Moreover, you can also expect AC executive lounges that will offer facilities such as at Wi-Fi connectivity at important stations.
There are also plans to install 321 escalators at important stations, out of which 50 will be commissioned this year. A satellite-based real time train information system named SIMRAN will be introduced for providing information about trains to passengers via SMS and internet. Passengers will also have to put up with shorter queues to buy tickets, as coin \ currency operated ticket vending machines are expected to be introduced alongside the ATVM and coupon facilities. If these policies see the light of day, do you think they will have any real and practical benefits?

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