Indian Railways should focus on Internal reforms

Indian Railways need urgent and systematic internal reforms to face the financial challenges and competition from the road sector said Railway Minister, Shri Nitish Kumar. Addressing the Conference of Indian Railways Accounts Service (IRAS) Officers on august 13th, the Minister asked them to avoid delay in decision making and identify different sources of revenue leakage to improve the financial health of the Railways. Latest Railway profits now can improve internal reforms and structure of organization too.

Speaking on the issue of corporatism and privatization of the Railways, Shri Nitish Kumar said that the issue deserves serious deliberation and any hasty decision will not be in the interest of the Railways and the economy. Railways in India provides direct employment to hundreds of thousands of people and livelihood to innumerable families both directly and indirectly. Shri Nitish Kumar further added that decentralization is in the interest of the employees and the financial performance of the Railways.

Indian Railways - New Marketing Strategies

The Indian Railways, one of the world's largest rail network, has been a key component of India's transport sector after independence of India. It is also the world's largest employer with over 1.4 million employees. Indian railways comprises two basic customer segments freight and passenger with more than two kind of gauge systems in existence. While the freight segment accounts for two third of revenues generated annually by railways, the rest comes from passenger traffic. Within the freight segment, bulk traffic accounts for nearly 95 per cent of the profits, of which more than 44 per cent is contributed by coal. Indian Railways run more than 17,000 trains daily, of which about 9000 are passenger trains carrying about 18 million passengers every day. Remaining trains are freight trains and carry various goods and coal all across India.

Future will see Indian Railways as a fully developed modern, reliable and cost effective integrated transport and logistics infrastructure, with focus on customers for meeting the transportation requirements of passenger and freight traffic. Indian Railway has been exploring innovating ideas in formulation of a responsive commercial policy and in pricing of freight services to create opportunities both for the vibrant industrial sector and Railways. Railways ministry and Railway board is planning internal reforms and other schemes for the modernization of Indian Railways.

E- Ticket Booking

How to book?

To book your e-ticket, log in at www.irctc.co.in and select the e-ticket option.
Indian railways now has an e ticketing facility. Book your ticket, pay using Visa or Mastercard and simply print the ticket or ERS (Electronic Reservation slip) on your own computer.
Carry it with you along with your stated ID and you're on the train!!

IR accepts the following as valid ID:

1. Voter Identity Card
2. Passport
3. PAN card
4. Driving License
5. Central/ sate Govt issued Photo ID card.

When you are travelling

- You must carry the proper identity card as given during booking.
- Your  name must be on the reservation chart.
- You must carry a platform ticket with him.