Railways to come out with smart cards

Railways to come out with smart cards

Railways to come out with smart cards

Quickly, passengers will not need to buy ticket every time for travelling. Instead of ticket, one can purchase a rechargeable smart card that can be swapped to board a train. Railway ministry is in talks with State Bank of India (SBI) to find out the right model for this.

"We are in the process of starting a system of smart cards with SBI. Once operational, I think it could also be used to metro trains," railway minister Mamata Banerjee said at Economic Editors' Conference on Wednesday. She did not give further details.

A senior official told FE railways may install validating slots' that would validate the travel when the smart card is swapped through it. "These slots may be installed either in trains or railway stations," the official said. Railways move 21 million passengers daily in more than 17,000 trains.

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Banerjee said railway system would be free of accidents within six months with the introduction of anti-collision device and "other safety measures". From April 1, 2010 to September 20, 2010, 63 accidents occurred including three collision. However, the number was lower than the corresponding period last year, when 66 accidents took place.

Talking about falling cash surplus of railways, she said the entity has lost more than Rs 1,500 crore due to bandh in last three years. "This was at a time when the Sixth Central Pay Commission put an additional burden of Rs 55,000 crore from 2008-09. Of this the recurring annual payout on account of salary and pension is over Rs 15,000 crore. As a result, ordinary working expenses increased from Rs 41,033 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 65,810 crore in 2009-10," Banerjee added.

However, she exuded confidence that railways would reduce the overall expenditure this year.

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