Around 6,000 railway stations will be WiFi-enabled in next 6 months: Goyal

Around 6,000 railway stations will be WiFi-enabled in the next six-eight months, Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 'Smart Railways Conclave' organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here, Goyal said that the railways was focusing on smarter project implementation.

"We believe that if we have to leverage digital technology, the basic ingredient is to ensure access to technology in the remotest part of the country. The railways are working on a programme to ensure the last mile connectivity wherever we do not have fibre optics in our network. We are hopeful that in the next six-to-eight months, all railway stations, other than the halt stations, about 6,000 stations will be WiFi-enabled," he said.

He said that the national transporter will have to start thinking, planning, and working smartly. "I think that's the change that you would have seen the last four years," he added. 

Arun Jaitley takes charge as FM after a three-month break due to surgery

A little more than three months after Arun Jaitley underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery, he took back charge of Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministry at 11 am on Thursday. Piyush Goyal, who was the caretaker Finance Minister in Jaitley’s absence, will continue as Railways and Coal Minister.

“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed to assign the portfolios of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs to Arun Jaitley,” an official statement said.

Jaitley underwent surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on May 14. He had been keeping unwell since early April due to kidney-related problems and chest infection. The initial assessment by the doctors post-surgery was that he would take at least eight weeks to recover.

The Finance Minister was discharged on June 4 and underwent post-operative recovery at his official residence under the most strict of conditions imposed by the doctors. He wasn’t meeting anyone but close family members and doctors.

After public concerns over 'bail-in' clause, govt to withdraw FRDI bill

The government has decided to withdraw the controversial FRDI bill and has informed about it to the Chairman of the parliamentary panel examining the proposed legislation.

Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Ray said in the Lok Sabha that Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has written to the Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, saying the government has decided to withdraw the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill.

The Union Cabinet had earlier this month decided to withdraw the legislation in view of the concerns expressed by certain sections of people, including politicians, over the 'bail-in' clause, which they feared would harm the interest of depositors.

"Minister Piyush Goyal has written to the Chairman of the Committee saying that the government has decided to withdraw the bill... This is a victory of the opposition," Ray said while participating in a debate on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (2nd Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.