New initiatives: Digital push to put passenger traffic back on growth track

Super-fast service for unreserved passengers, Wi-Fi, children's menu to stem fall in users

Suresh Prabhu's second Railway Budget was aimed at luring customers with novel schemes as passenger earnings dipped and low-cost airlines cut into the Indian Railways' passenger base.

The railway minister let information technology (IT) initiatives take centre stage in all his announcements. "The Indian Railways as an organisation cannot progress on the path of prosperity unless that path is digitally illuminated," Prabhu said in his speech.

Wi-Fi facilities, which were announced at 100 stations in the previous Budget, were extended to 400 more stations this time. These would be covered in two years. The minister introduced bar-coded tickets, GPS-based information systems inside coaches and IT integration of all facilities dealing with ticketing issues and receipt of suggestions. Track inspection, monitoring and maintenance would be switched over to an IT platform.

Prabhu and the ministry were widely complimented for being proactive on social media and in addressing consumer complaints. In line with this strategy, Prabhu said interaction and feedback through social media would be strengthened further.

The minister introduced Janani Sewa or children's food items on trains. Hot milk, hot water and baby food would be made available on stations and changing boards for babies would be provided in train toilets.

HAIL CONSUMER
Major announcements in Railway Budget 2016-17

• Interaction and feedback through social media & dedicated IVRS system
• Over 65,000 additional berths to be generated
• Mahamana Express with modern refurbished coaches introduced
• 17,000 bio-toilets in trains
• Operations audit from Ghaziabad to Mughalsarai section to improve punctuality
• 1,780 automatic ticket-vending machines, mobile apps & GoIndia smartcard for purchase of tickets
• E-ticketing system strengthened from 2,000 tickets per minute to 7,200 tickets per minute; can support 120,000 concurrent users against 40,000 now
• Security through helplines & CCTVs beefed up; 350 manned level crossings closed
• Double-decker UDAY trains, special amenity trains Tejas and Humsfar for reserved passengers
• Super-fast Antyodaya Express service for unreserved passengers
• Deen Dayalu unreserved coaches with potable water and more mobile charging points

Reaching out to the large number of unreserved passengers, the minister announced a super-fast, long-route train service - the Antyodaya Express. The Budget also introduced the Mahamana Express service, with modern refurbished coaches and 17,000 bio-toilets. Unreserved coaches called Deen Dayalu coaches, with potable water and more mobile-charging points, were also announced.

For reserved passengers, three types of trains were announced: Humsafar (fully air-conditioned, third-AC with an optional service for meals); Tejas (semi-tourism service to operate at 130 kmph and above and offer entertainment, local cuisine, Wi-Fi, etc., onboard) and Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY) Express (an overnight double-decker on the busiest routes).

The minister said UDAY has the potential to increase carrying capacity by almost 40 per cent. Humsafar and Tejas would ensure cost recovery through tariff and non-tariff measures, he said.

The suburban Mumbai train network, reeling under a traffic overload, got a breather. The minister announced two elevated suburban corridors - Churchgate-Virar and CSTM-Panvel. The CSTM-Panvel corridor would be integrated with Metro lines being planned by the state government to connect the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport. "We intend to raise all low-level platforms in Mumbai suburban stations in the ensuing financial year to address safety concerns on this account," said the minister.

For the national capital, the Budget pushed for a revival of the ring railway system that covers 21 stations.

The railway minister extended e-catering services from 45 large stations to all 408 A-1 and A class stations. He said the Railways was exploring the possibility of making mandatory catering services optional on trains, and local cuisine of choice would be made available to passengers.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Indian Railways would undertake awareness campaigns to improve cleanliness at select stations, station approach roads and adjacent colonies.

The Budget said the Railways would "install additional 30,000 bio-toilets in the next financial year and provide portable structures with bio-toilets at all platforms of select stations to meet the demand of senior citizens, the physically-challenged and women travellers".

The Vikalp scheme (alternative train accommodation system) introduced in October 2015 would be expanded to provide the choice of accommodation in specific trains to wait-listed passengers.
PEOPLESPEAK

#RailBudget2016 caters to all sections of society. It stands out because it is an infrastructure-led & employment-generating Budget. @narendramodi

"He (minister) has rightly addressed the key issues.... In fact what I found most impressive is the minister's shift of focus from 'completion' to 'commissioning' of rail projects"

Hemant Kanoria, Chairman & managing director, Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited

"Rail Budget is a forward looking and development-oriented one... We hope that Union Budget will make further announcements in public infrastructure"

T V Narendran, Managing director, (India & Southeast Asia), Tata Steel

"It is all over. It has derailed. There is nothing in the Rail Budget. It has cheated people. Let the financial Budget be presented, it will be further finished..."
Lalu Prasad, Rashtriya Janata Dal president

"The freight corridor project, the largest infrastructure project, is the most important. It is good that the Railways is adapting itself to the digital age. The minister has also given a clear indication of how funds will be raised to finance projects"

Sumit Mazumder, President, CII

"It is an extremely pragmatic Budget … aimed at making the Railways the backbone of development. The rationalisation of freight policy and review of PPP policy framework would help attract private players"

Harshavardhan Neotia, Ficci president