The Hindu Business Line : Rlys mulls bonus points for frequent travellers

WITH the airlines offering concession for domestic or international travelling, the Indian Railways is not the one to lag behind. To ward off increasing competition from airlines, Indian Railways is all set to come out with a frequent buyers' programme in August.

Under this scheme, the frequent travellers would earn bonus points and this is expected to attract more higher class passengers, Mr R.K. Singh, Chairman, Railway Board, said here today.

He said Railways has seen an 8-per cent increase in passenger traffic and a 3-per cent annualised returns - the highest in 25 years.

Answering whether the customers would end up paying more for their fair due to the proposed diesel hike, Mr Singh said the Indian Railways was the highest consumer of diesel in the country and it was consuming close to 205 crore litres per annum.

"Even if there is a rupee hike, it would set the Railways behind by Rs 200 crore. We would first try and absorb the hike by internal cost cutting measures before passing on to customers," he said.

Asked about the existing surplus land with Railways, Mr Singh said a Bill has already been tabled and is expected to be passed in Parliament.

This would allow the Railway Land Development Authority to decide what could be done with the surplus land. "It could be commercial venture or could be building yatri niwas," he said.

He, however, added the land would remain with Indian Railways and would enter into a lease agreement with the developer for the construction activities.

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Rlys mulls bonus points for frequent travellers