Railways to introduce prepaid auto-taxi at Patna Junction

Patna, Feb 26: The Indian Railways are all set to introduce prepaid autorickshaw and taxi services at Patna Junction and on the line of that in the other metropolitan cities of the country soon.

Railway sources said here yesterday that Danapur division of East Central Railway (ECR) was considering the blueprint of the proposal with the district administration to give it a final shape, adding that it would be of immense help to the passengers travelling to or from the Patna Junction.

''The Railways is striving to fulfill this long-cherished dream as people from different parts of the state board trains from Patna Junction. Prepaid services would help the passengers reach the junction at reasonable fares,'' the sources added.

Sources said the ECR was interested in maintaining the proper system in the circulating area for the passengers' convenience and widen it at the main entrances on both sides of the station to use the space for parking vehicles to be hired on prepaid services.

Bihar is set to get prominence in this year's Railway Budget as well. The ECR is likely to get some new trains, especially in the North Bihar region, as Railwlay Minister Lalu Prasad himself had promised a new ''Garib Rath'' to the list of three already running from different stations.

The fourth ''Garib Rath'' is likely to be introduced between Jainagar and New Delhi as the minister had promised the fourth one from Jainagar while inaugurating the Darbhanga-Nirmali broad gauge service.

UNI