SOME WAYS TO INCREASE THE REVENUE IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

SOME WAYS TO INCREASE THE REVENUE 

IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

K.K.Gangadharan

Submitted to MyGov April 2018 

Abstract

This paper explains my ideas/suggestions on how to increase revenue from the existing setup in Indian Railways? Even a cheap rate & much comfort in trains, it is true that day-by-day passenger’s distress situations are increasing mode. For illiterate / village / old people train travel is not as easy as compare to the bus journey. Village people haven’t aware of net booking, advance reservation, tatkal, cancellation, etc. People attitude is changing depends upon the technology upgrade. In this competition world, people have many options for transport. Railway can’t get profit unless the above problems must be solved. 

Ideas:

   ·     Coach and seat numbers are to be given to all passenger trains too as well as unreserved tickets for easy accountability.

   ·     Lease agreement for one year and max of 2 coaches in a train may be initiated.  They will take care of collections, checking, hygiene, safety, catering of those coaches. For a single train, 2 to 3 reputed organizations maybe selected.  

 ·  Introduce various offers on except Saturday, Sunday & Government holidays, like a 50% discount for first-time registration through net booking, one day pass (say Rs 500/= per day), business/group pass etc.

    ·       Provide youtube video links on the railway website, which should show how to use train facilities in the  finest, simplest way as well as while approaching major railway station how to reach nearest bus stand, ticket counter, inquiry place; coach, seat and train number with the train's name. This is because many of the railway junction / station are located like an island and far away from the center of the city bus stand.

   ·       Travel Train name, date, time & day should be in big letters on the ticket. Nowadays it has printed along with some other information.

  ·     Provide app which will give, every station arrival and departure or signal alert through mobile few seconds or one minute before like traffic signals RED - YELLOW - GREEN should be displayed in every coach. 

  · In every platform, part-time trainees, NGO's and volunteers may be provided service base or under company CSR activities and be used to help passengers in many ways

  ·  Provide toll-free mobile number (Caretaker - Security) in every train to communicate and solve the problems, inconvenience, safety and health issues. 

 ·   Ensure 24X7 ‘May I help you’ (Guige the passenger directly contact or through mobile contact) who can speak at least 3 to 4 languages. (Provide mobile and Whatsapp)   

 ·    Best to introduce a minimum 50% performance-linked salary to all railway staff.

 ·   Staffs should be categorized as Technical and Non-technical. Non-technical staff should get 50% less salary than Technical staffs.

 ·  Only one entry should be in the railway junction and all passengers should be subjected to the checking (process) whether they are having a live ticket(s), Digital tickets or any identity card to control ticketless passengers and illegal people.

 · High-class people didn’t prefer train journey because it takes much time and delay arrivals. So don’t focus on luxury? But the coach should be simple, economic and neatness is enough. 
 · Check-in procedure may be introduced and check and confirm their presence before half-an-hour. So that TTR work not necessary to be carried out.   
       

Possible constraints

 ·  It needs dedication in work & service, effective administration with updated talent  & tech. Forget one work to one staff policy;  & implement More work to One staff immediately. Strictly follows discipline & punctuality in all aspects. Target to reduce 50% overhead & performance-based salary.  
            

Cost-effective

 ·   Pvt & corporate sectors are following the above ideas and make their profit much more. Salary should be increased depending upon the % increase in the business (last year). We know that IT has touched the sky height. The railway staff above 45 years couldn’t cope with the current competitive world. So announce VRS. No new trains are needed. Utilize the existing trains in an effective way by re-engineering concepts.  

Value proposition to customers

 · Still nearly 50%of our people didn’t get train travel experience. Actually the logic behind the cheap rate is only because of them. They have less awareness on which trains will stop in their village and how much time? Also stations more or less in the same style, the illiterate people get confusion.  
      

Compliance to the boundary conditions

Basically, railway service has the following problems.

  ·   Due to long & short time stopping, illiterate and old people searching for their coach and seat number is difficult.

   ·      For this reason, only repeated people use this train. 

   ·      No punctuality in the train arrivals.

   ·      Poor train announcement & inquiry function is zero.

   ·    Village people don’t know about their stopping station. So the problem, which station they can buy a ticket?

  ·    Railway didn’t encourage tours and travels to the colleges & schools.  

Originality of the proposed ideas

  ·   All ideas are basic & important. Still people fears about railways. The support activities are poor. People haven’t aware of railway facilities & cheap rates. Giving more offers, the railway can attract village people, students, children & wipeout their fear. Need easy link between bus & railway station.

***********************