Patna-Kolkata Shatabdi Express this month

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, NOV. 3. A new Shatabdi Express train is all set to link Patna with Kolkata this month. Besides, the Railways is also expanding its passenger reservation facilities to make the tickets available through designated Internet kiosks.

``We are examining a proposal if we should open up passenger reservation through the Internet. If all goes well, we should be able to come up with this unique facility in Delhi in less than a year at notified kiosks. To that extent, it will ease the load on reservation system of the Railways,'' the Chairman of the Railway Board, Mr. R.N. Malhotra, told The Hindu.

Introduction of the express train between Patna and Howrah will provide a comfortable link to the passengers. The train is scheduled to complete the 500-km-long journey in over six hours. It would leave Patna at 6 a.m. and reach Howrah at 1.30 p.m. On the return, it would leave Howrah at 1.30 p.m. and reach Patna at 9.30 p.m. Only last month, two new Rajdhani Express trains from Raipur in Chhatisgarh and Hatia in Bihar were flagged off by the Railways Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar.

Apart from new trains, the Railways have attached importance to the hitherto neglected ``Holiday Special Trains.'' Mr. Malhotra said that all such specials were being monitored like other mail and express trains and the demand and occupation of such trains was also increasing. ``We have ensured that all holiday specials run on time and also have accommodation in second and third AC classes just like the regular trains,'' he said.

With the passenger traffic clocking a growth rate of seven per cent over the past two years, the Railways normally should have little cause for worry. ``But we have restrained from increasing passenger fares for the lower classes for the last five to six years. This has also contributed to the financial crunch being felt by the Railways,'' Mr. Malhotra said.

Passenger earnings have increased by Rs. 1,965 crores during 2000-01 over 1998-99. About 4,909 million passengers were booked during 2000-01, marking an increase of 9.8 per cent over 4,469 million passengers in 1998-99. From October 1, passengers have also been paying a safety surcharge that would help in mobilising Rs. 5,000 crores over a period of six years. ``During the current financial year, we will be able to raise about Rs. 400 crore,'' the CRB said.

With the creation of the non-lapsable Special Railway Safety Fund, arrears of replacement of assets are likely to be wiped out in a time bound manner.

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