Presenting the Railway Budget for 2008-09 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Minister of Railways, Lalu Prasad announced availability of rail ticket, monthly season ticket and platform ticket on smart card in Mumbai Suburban Service.

This service would be launched by the end of next month. The Central Railways has already started trial run for this purpose through public-private partnership.

The Railway Minister informed that the multi purpose card has been named 'Go Mumbai Card' and sale of bus tickets of BEST on this card has already started. These cards will be available at stations, bus depots of BEST and various other locations in the city.

He clarified that there would be no extra burden on passenger for buying tickets through the smart card. However, only a marginal fee would be payable on buying and recharging of the card.

Lalu expressed the hope that the initiative would end long queues at ticket counters for daily train passengers in Mumbai suburban.

Source: Press Information Bureau

Railway Budget: 2008-09