Rajdhani, Shatabdi trains to get internet, DTH

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is expected to announce a slew of initiatives for select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains in the coming rail budget, including access to on-board free internet and direct-to-home (DTH) services.

The railway ministry has identified at least eight trains (both Rajdhani and Shatabdi) in which internet services will be provided using Wi-Fi technology.

The extension of Wi-Fi internet zones on railway stations will, however, be taken up by Railtel Corporation, a public sector undertaking of the railway ministry. The work has begun on 10 stations out of the 50 stations short-listed for the purpose, a senior railway ministry official said.

The ministry is also planning to float tenders for providing DTH services on-board select tourist trains and Shatabdi trains soon, which may be mentioned in the railway minister's budget speech, ministry officials said.

"A number of business executives and foreigners among others, who carry Wi-Fi enabled laptops, often travel in Shatabdi and Rajdhani. We will target them and offer them internet," said a rail ministry official.

According to ministry officials, the railway minister may also announce launching DTH services on-board a couple of tourist-specific trains to be launched later this year on lines of the Buddhist circuit luxury train service, Mahaparinirvana Special Buddhist Heritage Train.

The tourism ministry has been exploring the idea with the railways for launching at least 5-7 tourist trains as a large number of foreign tourists visiting India do not visit places beyond select destinations like Goa, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

"Providing DTH services or installing satellite radio on-board such trains is not unthinkable. We have conducted the feasibility study, and it is just a matter of starting the process," the ministry sources said.

The upcoming railway budget may also open up advertising opportunities on select trains. Under this proposal, which has been successfully implemented in the southern part of the country, companies will pay a fixed fee for advertising on the trains.

The railway minister has already announced that the rail budget will be pro-masses.