Rail Analysis India March 2018 Digital Magazine | Page 180

180 | Article New Technologies Improving Passenger Services Image Credit: wikipedia Details of major initiatives taken by Ministry of Railways to improve the facilities for Rail Passengers are as under:- 1. Online ticket booking facility through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website thereby obviating the need to stand in queues at reservation counters. 2. Reserved and unreserved ticket booking facility through mobile phones. 3. Provision of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) at railway stations for dispensation of tickets. 4. Provision of various cashless modes of payment like net banking, e-wallets, credit/debit cards through Point of Sale (POS)s machines, through Unified Payment Interface (UPI), etc. with the reservation requisitions received from persons with disability, senior citizens, ladies, former Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, accredited press correspondents and freedom fighters. 6. Automatic preparation of first reservation charts at least 4 hours before scheduled departure of train and thereafter booking of available accommodation through internet as well as through PRS counters till preparation of second reservation charts. 7. Intimation to passengers through SMS in case of change in passengers’ reservation status from waiting list/RAC to confirmed, cancellation of trains, late running of train in identified trains, etc. 8. Cancellation of computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter tickets through IRCTC website or through 139. 9. Automatic refund to e-ticket holders in case of cancellation of trains. Image Credit: wikipedia 5. Earmarking of separate counters at various Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centres for dealing 10. Introduction of Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme ‘VIKALP’ to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers in alternate train to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation. 11. Increase in number of berths earmarked as RAC to accommodate more passengers. www.railanalysis.com