GUWAHATI: Indian Railways is providing free Wi-Fi to passengers at Railway stations as a giant leap towards Digital India.
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) covers total nine states (07 North-eastern states and 02 Eastern India states). All A1, A, B, D class stations of N. F. Railway’s jurisdiction were covered with Wi-Fi facility in phase -I. Majority of taluk headquarters that have railway stations have now been provided with Wi-Fi network.
This year 295 stations on NFR (Katihar Division 54 stations, Alipurduar Division 55 stations, Rangiya Division 64 stations, Lumding Division 87 stations and Tinsukia Division 35 stations) will be provided with Wi-Fi under Corporate Social Responsibility by M/s Tata Trust. With this all the 363 stations of NFR will have (except halt stations) free Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of current financial year.
Till last month 198 stations have already been provided with free Wi-Fi facilities. Of which 64 stations were commissioned during the month of September only. These include 17 stations of Tinsukia division (Panitola, Makum Jn., Dhamalgaon, Leptkata, Dikom, Chabua, Tingrai, Digboi, Lahoal, Margherita, Chaulkhowa, Khowang, Naharkatiya, Dibrugarh Town, Moranhat, Tangani, Selenghat); 20 stations of Lumding division (Rangapahar, Dhansiri, Daldali, Diphu, Jagiroad, Khotkhoti, Bokajan, Chungajan, Naojan, Katakhal, Panchgram, Sarupathar, Barpathar, Bhilgaon, Bhanga, Badarpur, Karimganj, Nilambazar, Barlongfar, Langcholet); 11 stations of Rangiya division (Changsari, Sripani, North Lakhimpur, Gogamukh, Pancharatna, Krishnai, Amjonga, Silapathar, Dhupdhara, Rangjuli, Singra); 7 stations of Alipurduar division (Dalgaon, Basugaon, New Baneswar, Gumanihat, New Chengrabandha, Chengrabandha, Kalaigram) ; 9 stations of Katihar division (Bhatnaha, Araria Court, Jhaua, Hatwar, Kanki, Dalkhola, Telta, Manihari, Arariya).
Railway passengers can now easily purchase UTS tickets from these stations by using mobile Apps. They can also avail various facilities / information while on railway stations free of cost.
It is estimated that about 20,000 users in Railway Premises everyday are first time users of the internet and there are very heart-warming stories of how the station Wi-Fi has helped to transform lives.