MID-DAY (May 15, 2017)

Railways will soon offer an array of popular films, TV serials and sitcoms in premier trains for passengers to watch on their laptops and mobile phones. However, the entertainment package will come at a price as the public transporter aims to monetise the service as part of its stepped up efforts to garner more non-tariff revenue, reported PTI. It would cost about Rs 25 lakh to equip a train with the content-on-demand service The content-on-demand service will be offered in select trains, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and Humsafar, to begin with and later be extended to more trains.

“Popular TV serials, films and musicals will be on offer in trains to make the journey enjoyable while at the same time the Railways will also earn,” said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with the project.

Besides Hollywood and Bollywood films, one can watch regional cinema and international shows. Besides videos, content-on-demand will also cover free radio service as audio package in trains and stations. RailTel, the telecom arm of the Railways, will execute the content-on-demand project and float the tender for awarding the contract.