The Hindu Business Line : e-tickets for all trains

The Rail Budget has brought good news for Internet-savvy passengers. In a bid to reduce the serpentine queues at the booking counters, the Railways has decided to offer the facility of e-tickets on all mail and express trains, while slashing the charges levied on issue of these e-tickets in sleeper class by Rs 15 a ticket.

Till now, e-ticket facility was available only for select trains, including Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi and Superfast. For higher classes, the charge on issue of e-tickets would be reduced by Rs 20 per ticket. At present, the charges for i-tickets and e-tickets are the same, at Rs 40 for second and sleeper class, and Rs 60 for other classes.

"Passengers can now buy i-ticket and e-ticket through Rail Travel Service Agents also. The extension of this facility will help reduce queues at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters," the Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, said while presenting the Railway Budget for 2006-07.

According to current data, only about two per cent of the total reserved tickets are sold online although the spread of broadband could now change the scenario.

The Railways' proposed IT drive would extend beyond ticketing services to improving operating efficiency of freight transportation. In the first phase, Rake Management System has been implemented at all major locations. In the second phase, Terminal Management System would also be implemented at all major locations.

The complete computerisation of control offices, Coaching Operations Information System and interfacing of both these systems with National Train Enquiry System (NTES) is expected to benefit passengers and other rail users.

After an initial hitch last year, the NTES scheme is being offered for tendering again, the Railway Board Chairman, Mr J.P. Batra, said at a conference.

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