(a) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to engage private companies or individuals for opening computerised reservation centres in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether any private company/individual has asked to
open the computerised reservation centres can be permitted
same; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI O.RAJAGOPAL)
(a) to (d) In order to facilitate rail reservation, a
scheme was planned to provide Passenger Reservation System
(PRS) terminals on experimental basis to a few travel
agents authorised under the Rail Tourist Agents Scheme and
Rail Travellers Service Agents Scheme. The pilot project is
yet to be implemented. Based on the outcome of this
experiment, as and when implemented, further course of
action in this regard will be decided.
In addition, to proliferate retail railway
ticketing and for improvement in customer service, it is
also proposed to issue reserved tickets on Internet. At
present Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation
(IRCTC), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of
Railways has been assigned a pilot project to facilitate
railway ticketing in Delhi area.