Rail Budget 2013: Slew of passenger-friendly measures announced

NEW DELHI: In a welcome move, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Tuesday announced a slew of passenger-friendly measures in his railway Budget 2013. While many stations were identified for improving the railway infrastructure, on-board facilities for passengers were also announced.

Here is a look at some of the measures that will bring cheer to railway commuters:

> Identification of 104 important stations for immediate attention to all aspects related to cleanliness.

> Progressive extension of bio-toilets on trains.

> Provision of concrete aprons on platforms with mechanized cleaning facilities.

> Extension of On Board Housekeeping Scheme and Clean Train Stations to more stations and trains.

> Extension of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Coin-operated Ticket Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and schme of Jan-Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBSs).

> Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

> Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback.

> 8-10 more mechanized laundries for quality washing of linen.

> Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains.

> Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains.

> Upgrading another 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected.

> Associate voluntary organizations for providing first aid services at railway stations.

> Introduction of an ‘Anubhuti’ coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services.

> 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently abled.

> Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly.

> Some JTBS to be reserved for disabled people.

> Curbing malpractices in reserved tickets including tatkal scheme.

> Third party audit and tie up with food testing laboratories for food quality control; ISO certified state-of-the-art base kitchens to be set up in railway premises.

> Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321)