Newly Developed ‘SMS Gateway’ Launched for Sending Alerts to Railway Passengers Regarding their PNR Status

Indian Railways added another milestone by launching yet another innovative scheme called the ‘SMS Gateway’, which will enable passengers to get SMS alerts on the status of reserved tickets. The ‘SMS Gateway’ which was developed by Centre for Railway information Systems (CRIS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Railways, was launched by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury here today on the occasion of a seminar on the theme “Role of IT in Rail Services – Present and Future”. The seminar was organised by the Centre for Transportation Research and Management (CTRAM), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Railways. Present on occasion the were Shri Arunendra Kumar, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri D. P. Pande, Member Traffic, Shri Kul Bhushan, Member Electrical and Shri Alok Johri, Member Mechanical, of Railway Board. 

The ‘SMS Gateway’ project will be used to send SMS alerts to passengers in case of status change in the PRS tickets, as compared to the initial booking status (For example W/L to RAC, RAC to CNF, W/L to CNF). SMS alerts prior to chart preparation will be sent once a day, in case of status change only, beginning from 5 days before the journey date. The SMS alerts after chart preparation (which is normally done 3-4 hours before train departure), will convey the actual Berth No., Coach No. and RAC No. for those passengers whose final Charting status has changed as compared to the initial booked status. In case of any ticket upgradation or seat re-allotment also SMS alerts will be sent. 

It is estimated that a large of SMS alerts will be sent on daily basis (approx. 4 lakh), hence the system will be made ONLINE in phases. Initially, the system would be configured for sending post chart alerts in a few selective Rajdhani trains, followed by other Mail Express trains. Subsequently the pre chart alerts will be enabled. 

This facility will greatly reduce the last minute enquiry rush on the PRS websites and Call Centre as well as reduce the4 crowding near the pasted Chart locations on the Railway Platforms. This service will be provided free of cost to the users. This will enhance the image of Indian Railways. 

Taking the things forward, CRIS took up the project for setting up of SMS Gateway of sending alerts to passengers, sanctioned by the Railways Board. Till now passengers can find about their PNR status through website enquiries or Call Centre (139) or IVRS or SMS enquiry. Railways decided to proactively send the SMS alerts to passengers at no extra charges to them. 

During the development of the application for sending SMS alerts, considerable challenges were faced, to ensure that there is no adverse impact in the normal functioning of the backend main PRS system (CONCERT), which is one of the largest ticketing applications in the world. M/s Mahindra Comiva and Velti System, India were the technical partners of CRIS for making this project a success. 

PIB

Expected DA for July 2014 : AICPIN for the Month of January 2014.

AICPIN for Industrial Worker for the Month of January 2014

Consumer Price Index Numbers For Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) January 2014

According to a press release issued by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment the All-India CPI-IW for January, 2014 declined by 2 points and pegged at 237(two hundred and thirty Seven). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by 0.84 per cent between December and January compared with the rise of 0.91 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

The largest downward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing -2.78 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Groundnut Oil, Onion, Brinjal Cabbage, Carrot, Gourd, Palak, Peas, Potato, Tomato and other Vegetable items, Sugar etc. are responsible for the decrease in index. However, this was compensated to some extent by Housing Index and the prices of Rice, Wheat, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Poultry, Cooking Gas, Electricity Charges, Petrol etc. putting upward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 7.24 per cent for January, 2014, as compared to 9.13 per cent for the previous month and 11.62 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 8.94 per cent against 11.49 per cent of the previous month and 14.08 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Bhilwara recorded the highest decline of 8 points each followed by Kodarma (7 Points), Bokaro and Surat (6 Points each), Varanasi and Munger Jamalpur (5 Points each). Among others, 4 points decrease was registered in 8 centres, 3 points in 13 centres, 2 points in 12 centres and 1points in 9 centres. On the contrary, Amritsar and Quilon centres reported an increase of 4 points followed by Jharia (3 points). Among others, 2 points increase was observed in 6 centres and 1 point in 7 centres. Rest of the 14 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 38 centres are above All-India Index and other 39 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Bhilwara centre remained at par with all-India index.

The next index of CPI-IW for the month of February, 2014 will be released on Monday, 31 March, 2014. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.gov.in.

Source: PIB

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the Terms of Reference of 7th Central Pay Commission

7th Central Pay Commission 

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the Terms of Reference of 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) as follows:-

a) To examine, review, evolve and recommend changes that are desirable and feasible regarding the principles that should govern the emoluments structure including pay, allowances and other facilities/benefits, in cash or kind, having regard to rationalization and simplification therein as well as the specialized needs of various Departments, agencies and services, in respect of the following categories of employees:-

i. Central Government employees-industrial and non-industrial;

ii. Personnel belonging to the All India Services;

iii. Personnel of the Union Territories;

iv. Officers  and   employees   of  the   Indian  Audit  and   Accounts Department;

v. Members of regulatory bodies (excluding the Reserve Bank of India) set up under Acts of Parliament; andvi. Officers and employees of the Supreme Court.

 b) To examine, review, evolve and recommend changes that are desirable and feasible regarding principles that should govern the emoluments structure, concessions and facilities/benefits, in cash or kind, as well as retirement benefits of personnel belonging to the Defence Forces, having regard to historical and traditional parities, with due emphasis on aspects unique to these personnel.

c) To work out the framework for an emoluments structure linked with the need to attract the most suitable talent to Government service, promote efficiency, accountability and responsibility in the work culture, and foster excellence in the public governance system to respond to complex challenges of modern administration and rapid political, social, economic and technological changes, with due regard to expectations of stakeholders, and to recommend appropriate training and capacity building through a competency based framework.

d) To examine the existing schemes of payment of bonus, keeping in view, among other things, its bearing upon performance and productivity and make recommendations on the general principles, financial parameters and conditions for an appropriate incentive scheme to reward excellence in productivity, performance and integrity.

e) To review the variety of existing allowances presently available to employees in addition to pay and suggest their rationalization and simplification, with a view to ensuring that the pay structure is so designed as to take these into account.

f) To examine the principles which should govern the structure of pension and other retirement benefits, including revision of pension in the case of employees who have retired prior to the date of effect of these recommendations, keeping in view that retirement benefits of all Central Government employees appointed on and after 01.01.2004 are covered by the New Pension Scheme (NPS).

g)  To make recommendations on the above, keeping in view:

i. the economic conditions in the country  and need for fiscal prudence;

ii. the need to ensure that adequate resources are available for developmental expenditures and welfare measures;

iii. the likely impact of the recommendations on the finances of the State Governments, which usually adopt the recommendations with some modifications;

iv. the prevailing emolument structure and retirement benefits available to employees of Central Public Sector Undertakings; and

v. the best global practices and their adaptability and relevance in Indian conditions.

h) To recommend the date of effect of its recommendations on all the above.

The Commission will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution.  It may consider, if necessary, sending interim reports on any of the matters as and when the recommendations are finalised.

The decision will result in the benefit of improved pay and allowances as well as rationalization of the pay structure in case of Central Government employees and other employees included in the scope of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

Background

Central Pay Commissions are periodically constituted to go into various issues of emoluments’ structure, retirement benefits and other service conditions of Central Government employees and to make recommendations on the changes required.

Source: PIB