Seeking to bring in greater transparency in ticket-checking system, hand-held terminals for train ticket examiners (TTEs) onboard Shatabdi Express were today launched by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu here.
The device estimated to cost about Rs 25,000 would also allow TTEs on a running train to send information to the immediate next station.
To begin with, TTEs in Shatabdi trains for Amritsar, Moga, Ludhiana, Bhopal and Lucknow have been provided with the hand-held terminals (HHTs).
"We are trying to make rail journey more enjoyable and hassle-free. Now TTEs will be given HHTs which is in direction of bringing more transparency in the system," Prabhu said while launching three IT initiatives including the HHT system.
The other two are e-booking of disposable linen on trains at New Delhi Railway Station and Nizamuddin Railway Station and paperless unreserved ticketing through mobile phones in suburban section of the South Central Railway.
Prabhu said the HHT system is a forward-looking system and has been launched as a pilot project for some trains. "HHTs for TTEs will help in updating status of passenger list of the whole train."
As per the plan, the HHT system will be expanded to other trains in a phase-wise manner.
Introducing the Personalised Takeaway E-Bedroll project, Prabhu said the kit was earlier launched at Chennai and Trivandrum stations and this facility has now been extended at New Delhi and Hazarat Nizamudding stations for passengers which can either be booked through internet or at designated counters.
He said Railways is committed to provide best facilities to its passengers through technology.
Passengers can avail this facility by paying Rs 140 for two bed sheets and a pillow, and Rs 110 for a blanket. These can be purchased together at a cost of Rs 250 or can be purchased separately.
The facility can be availed by passengers having confirmed e-tickets at the time of ticketing or up to four hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train on the basis of online payment.
Prabhu also launched paperless ticketing system in unreserved segment at Secunderabad, Hyderabad Deccan, Begampet, Falaknuma and Lingampalli stations through video conferencing here.
With the launch at these five stations, paperless ticketing facility now covers a total of 345 stations across the country.
Earlier, the application for paperless journey tickets was rolled out as a pilot project between Chennai Egmore and Tambaram suburban section April 22 last year.
It was subsequently extended to suburban section of Western Railway, Central Railway, New Delhi-Palwal section of Northern Railway and Kolkata suburban section of Eastern Railway.
