RailTel denies report that Patna station's free WiFi service was mostly used to access porn sites
A spokesperson for the state-run firm said they did not keep tabs on the content users browsed, but that they adhered to the Telecom Department's guidelines.
RailTel, the state-run firm that provides free WiFi at 23 railway stations across India in partnership with Google, on Tuesday denied reports that people at Patna station used this facility to watch pornographic content. A RailTel spokesperson told IANS, "Being an internet service provider, RailTel does not keep watch over the websites browsed by users. The guidelines being issued by the Department of Telecommunications in this regard, from time to time, are strictly complied with by RailTel."
The confirmation comes a day after a survey revealed that among the country's 23 railway stations that offer free WiFi, Patna has the highest number of users. However, an official had said that porn made up most of the content users searched for using the service at the station. YouTube and Wikipedia were the among the websites users frequently looked up at the station, besides apps as well as Bollywood and Hollywood movies.
Patna, which falls under the Danapur division of East Central Railway, is the first station in Bihar to offer free WiFi. The facility was launched in Patna, Visakhapatnam and Ranchi last month. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had said that the government planned to introduce the service at 400 railway stations across India by 2019.