Rail Budget 2016 – Top Things to Know

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It will come as a pleasant surprise to regular railway travellers to see that the rail budget 2016 is quite traveller-friendly. Fulfilling his promises of creating innovative solutions where the railways are concerned, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced quite a few good additions to the railways. For instance, many new trains have been announced to meet the growing demands of travel in India.

The online ticketing system will also see some very good developments. “We have enhanced capacity of e-ticketing system from 2000 tickets/min to 7,200/min. We are now supporting 1.2 lakh concurrent users now, as opposed to 40,000 earlier,” Prabhu said. Apart from this welcome change, here are the top things to know about the rail budget 2016.

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It may seem like a minor change, but it will definitely improve the whole look and feel of our railway stations. The walls of many stations across the country will now be enhanced with colourful murals depicting the culture and local attractions of that particular region.
About a 100 stations will receive Wi-Fi services this year, and this service will be extended to another 400 stations in the next two years. This is a welcome change for those travellers who like to check into their workplaces while travelling, or those who like to stay connected with friends and family on the go.
People who are interested in exploring north-east India will now be able to do so hassle-free. The north-eastern states of Mizoram and Triura will soon be connected through a broad-gauge railway network, allowing tourists to explore newer destinations.
“Tejas”, a train with a super speed of 130 kmph and above will soon be introduced. Not only will this train be lightning fast, but it will also feature world-class on-board services.
People who earlier avoided the railways for their on-board food services can now heave a sigh of relief. IRCTC will be introducing a range of food choices, including local cuisine, to their food menu. E-catering services will be extended from 40 to 408 stations, and a children’s menu and baby food will be made available.

There are many other features of the rail budget 2016 that aim to make train journeys easier and more convenient for travellers. What are your thoughts on these railway improvements? Do share your opinions in the comments section!

Source: India Today