New Delhi: Passengers of Delhi-bound
Shatabdi trains will now be able to watch their favourite
programmes on live television free of cost while on the go.
According to a plan finalised by the Northern Railway,
passengers of select Shatabdi trains will be offered the live
TV service as part of an infotainment package without being
charged for it.
"As per the plan, an eight-inch LCD TV screen will be
installed behind every seat in Executive Class and Chair Cars
in six Shatabdi trains originating from the capital," said a
senior Northern Railway official.
The trains which are being considered for installation
of TV sets include Amritsar Shatabdi, Kalka Shatabdi, Lucknow
Shatabdi, Bhopal Shatabdi, Ajmer Shatabdi and Dehradun
Shatabdi.
"This will be a free of cost value-added service for
Shatabdi passengers who will have a good time catching up on
news and entertainment including cricket matches," said the
official.
Northern Railways had a trial run of the service in Kalka
Shatabdi before deciding to introduce it in all six Shatabdi
trains originating from here.
"Response was very encouraging. There are many service
providers who are keen to provide the service," he said,
adding, "tenders will be floated soon for selecting the
service providers."
Envisaged on a PPP model, the service providers will
install TV sets and provide manpower to run the system.
"The TV service will be operationalised by the service
providers who will be allowed to air advertisement and share a
part of the ad revenue with the railways," said the official.
While passengers will be catching up on news and
entertainment free of cost, the private service provider will
share the revenue earned from the programmes.
While some Shatabdi trains have a total of 900 seats,
other such trains have 1,100 seats. The number of coaches in
each Shatabdi also varies.
"The annual payment for service providers will be ranging
between Rs 13 lakh to Rs 18 lakh depending upon the number of
seats and coaches in that particular Shatabdi train," said the
official.
It is being estimated that railways will earn Rs 27 lakh
approximately a year per seat from the TV service scheme.
However, the official said the purpose behind launching
the TV service is to provide value-added service and not to
earn additional revenue.
"The infotainment package is being offered as additional
amenities to passengers and it is a win-win deal for
passengers, railways and the agency providing the service," he
said.
PTI
