Cos can now advertise on Rly tickets
Railways hope to generate around Rs 2 crore per month per zone through this exercise.
By Rajat Guha, TNN |
NEW DELHI: A simple railway ticket will now turn out to be revenue generating device for the Indian railways. It will soon invite big ticket corporates to advertise at the back of railway tickets, which till now have been a place for polio and family planning ads.
Railways hope to generate around Rs 2 crore per month per zone through this exercise. This is expected to be announced in the Rail Budget, 2007-08.
“There are 16 railway zones all over the country. Each zone will be asked to invite advertisements on its own. This will be the part of new advertising policy of Indian Railways. The zonal railways have been advised to exploit areas like ticketing and announcements” said a Rail Bhawan official.
The new advertising policy, which is being given final touches will use every inch of ticket space for raking in moolah. The ministry is also considering a proposal to give entire train for bulk advertising, the official revealed. In this, a single firm can also be given bulk advertising rights.
Railway minister Lalu Prasad has many a times reiterated his idea to exploit more and more revenue generating areas in the Indian Railways. The railways has resorted to private participation, wherever possible, leaving a few areas like passenger rail service untouched. After bringing private players on board in construction of railway lines, leasing out land to retail players, development of excess land through private real estate developers, the only area, which remained to be tapped was ticket advertisement.
The ministry is also considering some proposals which aim to boost tourism. The tourism industry had asked the Railways to allow earmark some space for commercial advertisements.
Railways hope to generate around Rs 2 crore per month per zone through this exercise. This is expected to be announced in the Rail Budget, 2007-08.
“There are 16 railway zones all over the country. Each zone will be asked to invite advertisements on its own. This will be the part of new advertising policy of Indian Railways. The zonal railways have been advised to exploit areas like ticketing and announcements” said a Rail Bhawan official.
The new advertising policy, which is being given final touches will use every inch of ticket space for raking in moolah. The ministry is also considering a proposal to give entire train for bulk advertising, the official revealed. In this, a single firm can also be given bulk advertising rights.
Railway minister Lalu Prasad has many a times reiterated his idea to exploit more and more revenue generating areas in the Indian Railways. The railways has resorted to private participation, wherever possible, leaving a few areas like passenger rail service untouched. After bringing private players on board in construction of railway lines, leasing out land to retail players, development of excess land through private real estate developers, the only area, which remained to be tapped was ticket advertisement.
The ministry is also considering some proposals which aim to boost tourism. The tourism industry had asked the Railways to allow earmark some space for commercial advertisements.
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