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ATMs to dispense tickets at stations: Mamata

Issuing of tickets through the automatic teller machines (ATMs) at major railway stations will be a reality soon, according to the Railway Budget proposals for 2001-02.

Presenting her second budget, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said among various measures for modernising the railways, it is proposed to instal ATMs at important stations that will later be used for issue of tickets also.

For providing quicker information to public, on-line train running position will be available through cable TV/Internet and on Cellular phones by connecting National Train Enquiry System to these systems. The minister said ticket refunds would be fully computerised on all zonal railways.

Top priority would be accorded for providing drinking water, platform shelters, increasing the length of the platform to accommodate longest trains, raising the platform heights, and ensuring adequate seating arrangements, Banerjee said.

"In our Customer Care Institute, various training programmes have been initiated to train the front-line staff for better customer service", she said.

Computerised information on reservation availability status and train movement status, Banerjee said would be available on all "A class stations".

To improve sanitation at stations, a large number of ''Pay and Use'' toilets will be provided along with facilities for mechanised cleaning, she said.

Banerjee said 74 stations more stations would be upgraded as Model Stations in addition to existing 210 such stations. Similarly, 71 additional passenger reservation system locations would be set up over and above 670 such locations. She said amenities on the lines given to Rajdhani Express trains are to be introduced on 30 trains.

ALSO READ:
The Railway Budget 2001-2002
The Budget 2001-2002 Special
The Y2K Railway Budget
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