Railways invites EoI for on-board entertainment system

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) Be ready to listen to your choicest tunes and watch live TV programmes while travelling in Shatabdi trains.

As part of its plans to upgrade passenger amenities, the Railways has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) for on-board audio and video informatioon dissemination and entertainment system in AC Chair cars.

To begin with, the infotainment and entertainment module would be introduced for AC chair car passengers, whose journey duration would be around 6-7 hours.

The proposed project would be provided through a public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model in which the Railways would not pump any investment.

''The private players will design the system proposing the technology and create necessary infrastructure. They will also be responsible for obtaining copyrights of audio/video CDs and cassettes,'' a Railway Ministry official said.

He said the module for information, advertisement and entertainment would be designed by the party but it had to be vetted by the Railways, which, in turn, would authorise the successful bidder to earn through commercual advertisements on LCD during the travel time on mutually agreed terms.

The overall maintenace will be done by the private party and the Railways will provide only necessary space for men and machine on board.

The service provider will have to pay a fixed annual license fees.

Initially, the successful bidder will be given the right to provide such facility for five years, which cane be extended for another five years on successful completion of the tenure and a favourable appraisal of performance of the service provider.

Only those companies can make bids whose minimum annual turnover during the last three years is not less than Rs 50 crore. In case of a consortium, each company should have a minimum turnover of Rs 50 crore in the previous financial year (2005-06).

The official said the private players would have to ensure such a system on-board and ensure its connectivity with base stations for updating and displaying the current status of train running and other passenger-related information.

''The system should primarily consist of individual LCD screens connected with headphones based on Bluetooth/Wi-fi technology in executive class of Shatabdi trains. A roof-mounted plasma TV screen, with provision of individual cordless headphones will have to be provided in AC chair car coaches,'' he said, adding that it would be desirable if live TV programmes were also shown.

He said the system would provide connectivity with mobile network for real time updating of train-related information.

''Security of equipment will not be the responsibility of the railways in case of theft or vandalism or during coach maintenance.

The insurance cover will be arranged by the service provider to meet any eventuality,'' he added.

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