eGovWatch: Key Technology driven measures announced in Rail Budget 2015 to improve travel

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented his maiden Rail Budget in Lok Sabha today. Rail Budget 2015 proposed extensive use of Information Technology and eGovernance initiatives in Railway functioning, from SMS alert service for passengers, provision for open Wi-Fi at Railway Stations, to digitised mapping of rail land.

Prabhu said that his ministry is looking forward to promote eGovernance to bring efficiency and transparency in Indian Railways. “Good governance emerges out of participative governance, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed the technology-driven measures announced in Rail Budget 2015. “I am particularly delighted that for the 1st time there is a concrete vision for technology upgradation & modernisation of the Railways,” Modi tweeted.

India Inc also welcomed the budget, terming it ‘Technology-Enabled Traveller-Centric’

Here are the technology initiatives announced in the Rail Budget 2015 to make travel more convenient for passengers:

• Open Wi-Fi would  be made available at 400 railway stations across the country

• Digitised mapping of Rail land will be initiated to counter encroachment. Prabhu said land mapping has been initiated and responsibility will be fixed on officials for any encroachments.

•  An integrated customer portal is being put in place for customers to access various railway services at one place

• An ‘Operation five minutes’ will be introduced for issuing unreserved tickets. Under this facility, ticketless passengers can get regular tickets within five minutes of entering station. Unreserved ticket purchase is also expected to be made simpler through smart phones and debit cards

•  SMS alert service would be introduced to inform passengers about train arrival and departure

•  Mobile charging facility would be made available in all trains and stations. The facility will be extended to general coaches as well.

• Railway helpline number 138 will become operational 24×7. Toll free number 182 will be created for security related complaints. A mobile application to redress complaints is also being developed and a pilot project for this will begin in the Northern Railway from March 1

• CCTVs to be introduced in select trains and suburban trains for women safety

•  E-catering will be launched for select meals from an array of choices, ordering food through IRCTC websites at the time of booking tickets.