Rail budget: 10 reasons why you should book a train ticket - Hindustan Times

Rail budget: 10 reasons why you should book a train ticket - Hindustan Times

Railway minister Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday announced the Modi
government's first rail budget. A look at the minister's maiden budget
featuring a number of passenger-friendly announcements:

1) Internet and workstation facilities will be provided on select trains

2) Cooked, ready-to-eat meals of popular brands to be served and
action will be taken against vendors for poor food quality. Orders can
be placed by phone. Food courts to be introduced at major stations.

3) Future e-ticketing to support 7,200 tickets per minute and to
allow 120,000 simultaneous users. Currently, the IRCTC's ticketing
website handles around 2,000 tickets per minute. Internet-based platform
and unreserved tickets can be booked.

4) Several tourist trains will connect pilgrim centres across the
country. Devi Circuit, Jyotirling Circuit, Jain Circuit among others
have been identified by railways for running pilgrim trains.

5) The rail budget promises cleaner trains. CCTVs will be used at
stations to monitor cleanliness and third party inspections will be
introduced. Separate housekeeping wing at 50 major stations.

6) Number of mechanised laundries to be increased for quality
bedrolls in AC coaches. Onboard housekeeping to be extended to more
trains and RO drinking water will be introduced on experimental basis.

7) Women RPF constables will escort coaches reserved for females; mobile phones to be provided for all RPF escort teams.

8) Mobile-based wakeup call system and arrival alerts to be put in place for passengers.

9) Summer internships to be initiated for undergraduates of engineering and management studies.

10) Setting up of a railway university for technical and
non-technical subjects. Tie-up with technical institutions to be
introduced.