At least 50 percent of the Railway ticket outlets would be managed by the private players, another privatisation move of the Railways like container and catering service.
It may appear contrary to the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad views against privatisation of Railways. But the fact is that Railways is slowly moving for privatisation of its businesses. "Railways will open nearly 5000 new ticketing counters across country, 50 percent of which would be run and managed by private players" a senior Railway official close to Lalu Prasad said in Patna on Thursday.
At present there are 1,500 Railway booking counters, owned and operated by the Railways. He hinted that entry of private players for ticket business is likely to be announced in the next Railway Budget in February 2007.
The Railways is set to follow the business strategy of airline operators. The Railway official said that private players may provide home delivery of railway tickets, an innovative scheme for consumers.
The Railways has already outsourced the sale of railway tickets. The Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation is selling e-tickets through Sify cybercafes and other private and government agencies.
