Vijayawada railway station may have Wi-Fi connectivity in the near future if the Railway Ministry’s plan to roll out the technology in A-1 and A category stations across the country and on important trains fructifies. The facility will be implemented most probably by RailTel Corporation of India (RAILTEL) or it may be taken up in partnership with private enterprises if any logistical or connectivity issues are encountered by the former.
Wi-fi facility was earlier introduced in Chennai by RAILTEL but it could not be continued for long due to problems in its operation, which leaves the field open for either the public sector telecommunications provider which has the exclusive right of way along the country’s railway tracks for its optical fibre cable network, or some private company to take it up.
There are apprehensions about its efficacy which should guide the policy announced on Tuesday, a senior Railway official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.