Rly plan points reward system to retain customers

In a bid to retain travellers being lured with competitive ticket rates by various airlines, the railway ministry is planning to introduce points reward system for frequent train travellers in the forthcoming railway budget.

In the last rail budget, Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had presented a please all budget by maintaining status quo on passenger fares, freight charges on all commodities. This year the budget is expected to hike passenger fare for the high-end travellers and freight charges for certain commodities.

"We have been planning to introduce the concept of points rewards system for frequent travellers since long and are expecting an announcement in this regard in the budget. The points reward system will help us retain our customers," said a senior railway official.

The railway ministry plans to focus on direct marketing efforts to highlight the various schemes and initiatives for the benefit of the industrial and other users, such as allotment of wagons, parcel vans in mail and express trains, land for warehousing, facilities available in railway areas, sites for hoardings and advertisements amongst others.

"The railways from time to time have made announcements regarding various schemes and facilities for revenue generation. However, due to inadequate marketing of these schemes, the railways couldn't benefit much. We are planning to strengthen our marketing efforts," said the official.

There are plans to introduce refrigerated bogies for transportation of perishable goods, which would help increase its share in transportation of goods, though such bogies are already operational on a few routes.

Apart from introducing the points reward system, the budget may also put a thrust on improving passenger amenities such as LED display, increasing ticket counters, display of bogey position, cleanliness of railway stations, etc. establishing STD, ISD and PCO booths on major stations and platforms, toilet facilities, safety and security, length of platforms, additional coaches amongst others.