Towards e-governance using online tools in rail passenger transportation

Tatkal Reservation Scheme has revamped to enable passengers to travel at short notice. Now all mail/express trains have Tatkal accommodation. Procedure for obtaining Tatkal Tickets has also been simplified. Availability of Tatkal berths has been increased by 16 times in AC and 6 times in non-AC classes. Internet Ticketing now covers 140 important cities. The Internet hours of reservation have also been extended to 0400 hrs. to 2330 hrs. with effect from March 15, 2005. Reservations through mobile phones was launched as the Mobile Phones are available with nearly 45 million users. It is also proposed to extend the booking of tickets through landline phones also. Integrated Train Enquiry System has been launched for knowing Train Running Status, PNR Status, and availability of accommodation through Interactive Voice Recording System. National Train Enquiry System has also been established to provide updated position to the passengers. As a trial pilot project, two Call Centres, at Patna and Bangalore, have been commissioned on November 29, 2004. These Centres will have the capacity to handle one lakh calls a day. The system operates on the ‘Real Time Input’ basis by the Control Officers across the country. A Web linkage has also been provided on the Website (www.trainenquiry.com). All air conditioned coaches will be fitted with electrical points for charging cellular phones and laptop computers within a timeframe of one year. This will ensure connectivity to passengers onboard. Electronic Payment Gateway facility has been started in January, 2005, and the same will be extended to all major customers. Claims Offices are being computerised to provide online information to claimants about the status of their claims and to help the customers to find unconnected consignments and improve monitoring of the claims cases. 

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