IN PICS! Indian Railways to launch 'Content On Demand' service in trains soon
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: March 5, 2021 02:24 PM2021-03-05T14:24:13+5:302021-03-05T14:24:13+5:30
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The much awaited Content on Demand service in trains will be launched this month, a senior official of RailTel Corporation of India said on Thursday.
The service involves infotainment in moving trains by providing preloaded multilingual content which will include movies, news, music videos, and general entertainment.
To ensure buffer-free services, media servers will be placed inside coaches, RailTel Chairman and Managing Director Puneet Chawla said in a press briefing.
Passengers will be able to enjoy high-quality buffer-free streaming across personal devices and the content will be periodically refreshed.
Pilot implementation in a Rajdhani and an AC suburban rake over Western Railway is in the final stage of completion and testing.
The revenue share of Railway and RailTel is 50:50 with the PSU expecting an annual revenue of at least Rs 60 crore from the initiative.
RailTel has roped in Margo Networks, a subsidiary of Zee Entertainment, to provide the CoD service in trains and railway stations.
The project will be implemented in two years and the content will be made available both in paid and unpaid formats for a contract period of 10 years which includes first two years of implementation.
With an aim to generate more non-fare revenue, the Railway Board has entrusted RailTel with providing the CoD service to passengers in trains.
"Content on Demand will be available from this month and it will not only improve passenger experience but also increase non-fare revenue through multiple monetisation models," Chawla said.
Platform tickets at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Thane, Kalyan, Panvel and Bhiwandi Road in Mumbai will now cost Rs 50.
During the month of May, Mumbai and surrounding railway stations are crowded for out-of-town trains. Therefore, considering the Corona period, the ticket price has been increased to avoid congestion, said Central Railway. These new rates apply until June 15
