IT applications in passenger business B.V.L.NarayanaSPTM/RSCBRC

Why have IT applications It applications are useful in instances –Transactions, repetitive, large in number, avoid variations in behavior and process –Data capture at point of interchange, large volume, repetitive and required for process execution –Storage of large volumes of primary data, requiring manipulation and use for business decision making

Advantages of IT Can be a minimal human interface system with extensive standardization –Avoids variation in process, mistakes, inconsistencies, deviations –Speed of execution –Stability and reliability of capture of data and process –Relieves human mind occupation for higher order decision making—contextual –Allows greater control of decentralized activities

Primary documents Operations –Station register –Control charts –Train consist –CTR –Loco cards Customer interface –Requisition form –ticket

IT applications in passenger business Major areas covered –Ticketing Reserved—PRS –At site –Distributed –E-ticketing Unreserved—UTS Coaching refunds –Information dissemination Charting NTES Information display at stations Web enabled public information services –Coaching operations information system

Ticketing applications PRS –Started in 1985 as pilot project in Delhi –Stand alone systems on Vax machines, IMPRESS soft ware—fortran 77, CMC –CONCERT -Country-Wide Network for Enhanced Reservation and Ticketing introduced >1995— CRIS –Five metros on network from 1999 –Migration to Alpha VMS servers, >1500 locations –Data warehousing and web based reports Is a anywhere to anywhere ticket issual system with accountal

Unreserved ticketing system UTS –Started as ARTS( Advanced railway ticketing system) - stand alone –Bangalore, CMC, PC based (EPROM run) –Extended to 500 locations over time CRIS developed UTS –Pilot project in Delhi area 2002 –Centralized DBM driven transaction processing system –Covers suburban and non suburban sectors

UTS coverage Total Addition March May October March March Network –three tier architecture –End point counters (station)—zonal server— central server –integrated UTS/PRS network structure

Integrated coaching management system Punctuality module- linked to NTES –2004, punctuality data, case analysis, web based reports –Being migrated to Intranet (FOIS) from PRS/NTES Coaching stock module –Capture online events on coaching stock –Web based, intranet (FOIS) Coaching maintenance module –2007 – utility module for CDO Time table module –Maintain data on trains –Help in web enabling of time table –DSS for path estimation

Control charting application Started as pilot project independently at multiple places– SR 1998 Centralized software development by CRIS 2001started Roll out started 2005 Capture originating point of data for all operations activities

National train enquiry system Centralized information system covering –Arrival and departures including ETA –Platform berthing of passenger trains – Journey Planning – Facilities available at stations – Railway Rules. Conveyed through –Display Boards, Interactive Voice Response System, Public Address System, Face to Face Enquiry, CCTV and internet Unix based RDBMS system, implemented 1998

Web based systems Web based information display through web site –Implemented in 2000 –all the common enquiries like Trains between a given pair of stations, reservation availability, PNR status, Fare, Train schedule and station codes were made available –>2million hits per day –SMS BASED INFORMATION TRANSFER SYSTEM INTRODUCED

E and I-ticketing Web based ticketing system –Implemented through IRCTC –Ticketing access through user specific accounts and payment gateways –Mediated through intermediate servers of IRCTC –Concept of sacrosanctity of ticket removed in e-ticketing –Empowers customer determined ticketing activity –Being extended as adjuncts to ATMs

Information dissemination system All India telephonic enquiry system— 139 –Call centre based national enquiry system –Covers all information about passenger services and facilities at stations –Advancement on earlier IVRS based local systems

ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED CRIS required –to avoid duplication of efforts by individual Railways. –to ensure standardization of resources –to undertake design and development of major applications –to insulate the organisation from day to day working of the Railways so that its objectives are not lost sight of. –need for a combined effort of Railways and Computer Specialists, considered best suited for the development of the computer applications on Railways. –need for development of expertise in highly specialized fields –need for greater flexibility to keep pace with the fast changing technology.

Directorates involved C&IS DIRECTORATE –Functions C&IS is a nodal Directorate for implementation of all projects on Indian Railways, which are charged to plan head Computerization. Development of norms, standards, maintenance manuals in the area of computerization. Preparation of IT plan for Indian Railways. Coordinating training effort in IT areas

Extent of IT utilization Is a function of top management –Vision of processes being done by organisation –Vision of utility of technology of IT –Vision of what capabilities organisation has –Strategic vision for organisation

Uncovered areas DSS systems based on data warehousing Integration of accounting data Capture of consumer preferences Capture of customer satisfaction data Need to get sectoral OD flows to understand changing customer preferences Need data on competitive modes and total business dynamics

Factors affecting passenger business Factors affecting passenger business Rail journey attributes –Service quality –Information access –Station facilities –On board facilities and environment –Punctuality –Crowding

factors affecting passenger business factors affecting passenger business External factors –Economic Fare elasticities Effect of journey times, frequencies Need to change trains Economic growth –Demographic Population growth aggregations –Competitive Cross mode price elasticities

Thanks any questions