Project to provide Wifi services in trains dropped: Railway minister

The railways has “dropped” a project to provide internet connection in trains because it was not cost effective, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said as a pilot project, Wi-Fi based internet facility was provided in the Howrah Rajdhani Express train through satellite communication technology.

“This technology was capital intensive with recurring costs in the form of bandwidth charges and thus, was not cost effective. Also, the internet bandwidth availability to passengers was inadequate.

“Hence, the project was dropped. At present, suitable cost effective technology for provision of Wi-Fi based internet services in trains is not available,” he said.