"We are planning to allow installation of 5,000 ATMs and an equal number of vending machines at various stations across the country. We are negotiating with different banks for a tie-up to utilise their over 1 to 1.5 lakh counters across the country for the distribution of rail tickets", Sudhir Kumar, OSD to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said.
Besides, he said, efforts were also on to have tea, coffee, cold drink counters at Railway stations to provide adequate facilities to passengers keeping in view the announcement made by the Railways Minister dedicating the year as 'passenger amenities year'.
Railways was also negotiating with telephone companies including BSNL, to introduce SMS services to alert its passengers with regard to their journey, reservations, arrival/departure of trains or any other relevant information they seek with regard to their journey/train operations.
Kumar said a pilot project was already in operation at the Bangalore station equipped with all the facilities and, if found successful, would be extended across the country gradually.
Similarily, an understanding between Indian Railways and BSNL was being finalised for the distribution of platform tickets at its different counter, he said.
Under the proposed scheme, he said ATM would be connected with ticket counters, called 'Electronic Dispensing Counter' from where tickets could be issued.
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