ATMs, cyber cafes at major stations

Declaring 2006 as the 'Year of passenger service with a smile', Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced a series of measures for better passenger amenities, including steps to shrink queues at booking counters and providing modern facilities in trains.

As part of the modern facilities, new technology LHB design passenger coaches have been proposed in Patna and Sealdah Rajdhanis, besides equipping four popular trains with world class passenger amenities and interiors.

Modern facilities such as ATM, cyber cafes to be provided at all major stations and a pilot project undertaken for giving the publicity rights for an entire division to a single agency through open tender.

Pilot projects started to upgrade retiring rooms, waiting rooms, station buildings, lavoratories under private-public partnership schemes at a few stations to be expanded further.

As regards booking of tickets, charges levied on issue of e-tickets reduced. I-ticket and e-ticket can also be bought through rail travel service agents and 800 more UTS centres to be opened. About 200 automatic ticket vending machines in Mumbai suburban areas to be installed.

'Janasadaran Ticket Booking Scheme' formulated to be made available. UTS counters for unemployed youth under the 'Grahim Ticket Booking Service' agency being given to roadside stations to unemployed rural youth for issuing tickets.

The Railway Budget 2006-07

IRCTC would award license to open bidding to provide all onboard services and these services will also be made available on the mail and express trains without pantry car.

Regarding passenger amenities, all 'A' and 'B' category stations have been proposed to be made model and architects would be involved in all divisions to make station buildings look more beautiful, comfortable and modern.