Mamata proposes expert committee under Pitroda

Mamata proposes expert committee under Pitroda

The Railway Minister says SMS updates will be made available for passengers to check train status and reservation status

Friday, July 03, 2009

NEW DELHI, INDIA: India's Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who presented a populist Railway Budget for 2009-10 on Friday, proposed an expert committee headed by Sam Pitroda, the head of the National Knowledge Commission, to suggest innovations to utilize optic fibre cable network of Railways and take information technology to remote areas.

Emphasizing on review of projects with social perspective, she also said the Railways will come out with White Paper on organizational, operational and financial status based on the last five years' performance and develop Vision-2020 with short and long-term strategy and plan of action.

"The old mindset of economic viability should be substituted by social viability," the Railways Minister said while presenting the Railway Budget. In another interesting proposal, the Railway Minister said SMS updates will be made available for passengers to check train status and reservation status.

Also, the Railways will sell tickets from 5,000 post offices across the country and will introduce Auto-vending machines and ATMs on 200 mid and small sized stations across the country.

She also said E-ticket cancellation system will be simplified for the benefit of the passengers.

©CyberMedia News