Railways' received 29 crore calls on national enquiry number in 2012

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Indian Railways said Sunday that it had received 29.20 crore calls on its 139 national enquiry number last year, while 120 crore calls were answered in the six years since the facility's inception in July 2007.

The number enables travellers get information on their PNR (passenger name record) status, arrival and departure time of trains and platform number and enables them book tickets through prepaid cash-cards.

"The railways national enquiry number 139 received the highest - 29.20 crore - phone calls last year recording an average of around eight lakh calls per day," the railways said in a statement.

"The SMS service received around 7.50 crore text messages last year, around two lakh SMSs per day."

Interesting facts have emerged out of railway's call data, which show that the majority of calls are received between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., while peak calling hours are between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

"Around 62 percent (callers) seek information about confirmation of their seats, while around 24 percent seek information about the arrival and departure of trains. The remaining 14 percent seek information about accommodation and fares," the statement said.