Railway Budget 2013: Aadhar can be beneficial for Railways, says Bansal

NEW DELHI: Aadhar can be helpful for Railways in many respect, from booking tickets to tracking pension of rail employees, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.

"I look forward expectantly to the use of Aadhar scheme by IR," BAnsal said.

The database generated, can be extensively and efficiently used by railways not only to render more user friendly services such as booking of tickets, validation of genuine passengers with GPS enabled handheld gadgets in trains, but also to provide a better interface with its employees in regard to their salaries, pension, allowances etc.

"I have had some discussion on potential applications of Aadhar with Shri Nandan Nilekani. I plan to roll out a more efficient and people sensitive Railway Services system," he added.
Other measures include a special luxury coach with the best of ameneties, named 'Anubhuti', with select trains.

Indian railways is concerned about the safety of women passengers, and has created 4 companies of women RPF personnel for their safety, Bansal said.

Ladies coaches in metros are being accompanied by women RPF personnel, he added.

There has been a reduction in the number of train accidents, even though passenger and freight volumes have increased, Bansal said in his maiden Railway Budget speech.

Indian Railways face mounting scarcity of resources.

"Howsoever high a flight may be, we must remain connected to the ground," he said.

Pawan Kumar bansal started his speech with the usual homage to Congress leaders. He is the first Congress Railway Minister in nearly 17 years and expectations are high from his Rail Budget speech.

Bansal had in January hiked railway fares across the board for the first time in a decade. The decision had met with widespread political criticism.