Mobile ticketing vans deployed by Indian Railways in Kolkata and Delhi on a pilot basis has not only generated additional revenues for railways but has also eased reservation woes faced by passengers Indian Railways, one of the largest rail networks in Asia, plays a vital role in the movement of goods, traffic and passengers all over the country. Of late, there has been a tremendous surge in passenger traffic and to cater to this demand several new trains are introduced every year.
Yet for some reason or the other, getting a reserved ticket has been a constraint for several lakh passengers who wish to travel via railways. Long queues at the reservation counters as well as inaccessibility of reservation counters and slow Internet booking of tickets, among others have been the major bottlenecks for common people while purchasing reserved tickets, which sometimes lead to a brawl at the reservation counters.
Increase in railway revenues
 To ease the bottlenecks, the Ministry of Railways introduced a pilot project earlier in January this year in two leading metros of India, New Delhiand Kolkata, where mobile ticketing vans have been stationed at various locations for issuing reserved and unreserved tickets. The concept of the project known as ‘mushkil aassan’ was announced by railway minister Mamata Banerjee in her Rail Budget in 2009-10. It has paid rich dividends by generating additional income and boosting the overall railway revenues ever since it became operational. The revenues earned till April 15, 2010 since the launch of the project in Kolkata and New Delhi stood at Rs 24,95,409 and Rs 13,62,658, respectively.
Analysts also opine that the revenues generated from the mobile ticketing service can be utilised to upgrade services rendered by railways and also expedite projects that are lagging behind due to lack of funds.
In this context, Samir Goswami, chief public relations officer at Eastern Railway, while speaking to a ShippingBiz360 correspondent said, “The main objective of mushkil aassan is to make railway reservation system available to people who do not have easy access to reservation counters or Internet booking facility. Since railway is one of the most cost-effective modes of transportation, making ticket reservation facility available to people is extremely important and mushkil aassan is an important step taken in this direction.”
Mr Goswami added that mobile ticketing vans will aid the growing passenger demand for reserved tickets and will also ease burden of 144 railway reservation counters operational under Eastern Railways.
Make railway journey comfortable
Industry insiders believe that the concept of mushkil aassan will not only make railway reservation system available to masses but the same will also help to make their journey more comfortable. As several people are unable to procure reserved tickets, they are forced to travel in general compartments, which are packed to the fullest in long distance trains, and the situation worsens during festive seasons. These vans will be of tremendous help during festive seasons when there is a mad rush for tickets across reservation counters.
“The idea is very novel and we are looking forward to its implementation under South Western Railways,” comments Kuldeep Chaturvedi, general manager at South Western Railways. Indian Railways must come up with other such ideas to facilitate passenger movement.
Arup Choudhury |
