Smart card for train journey on Howrah and Mumbai routes

Aptly named Go-India card,it can be used for booking tickets for long distance and sub-urban trains on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Horwah routes.

Asked whether the scheme will be extended to other routes,officials said,8221;the pilot project is for one year and depending on the response we will decide for its extension on other routes8221;.

The Go-India card proposal,as announced in the Rail Budget 2011-12,will be implemented in two phases.

8220;While in the first phase it will allow the passenger to buy train tickets in the Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai routes,Kolkata Metro will be included in the second phase,8221; he said.

One can book reserved and unreserved tickets using the Go-India card at booking counters,automatic ticketing vending machines ATVM and also through the Internet.

All major stations like Kanpur,Allahabad and Dhanbad in Delhi-Howrah route and Baroda and Surat in Delhi-Mumbai sector will have facilities for using Go-India card.

The Centre for Railway Information System CRIS,the IT arm of railways,is making the software for the smart card.

8220;We will sign an agreement with a nationalised bank shortly to make the Go-India card operational,8221; the official said adding,8221;our aim is to make booking of tickets for train journey a hassle-free exercise for the passenger as this will act as a single window package for long distance,sub-urban and metro journeys.8221;