Cleanliness app, menu for kids & more bio-toilets

From easier ticketing to cleaner and smarter coaches, the railways plans to roll out the red carpet for passengers hoping to win them back from low-cost airlines and comfortable buses.

The state-run transporter will start sale of tickets through hand-held terminals for suburban and launch shortdistance travellers. Cancellation of some tickets will now be possible using the 139 helpline. Platform tickets will be sold through ticket vending machines and would be compatible with cash, credit and debit cards.

In the next three months, foreign tourists and non-resident Indians will be able to use their debit and credit cards for booking tickets.

The railways also intends to commission Wi-Fi services at 100 stations this year and at 400 more stations in the next two years and will partner with Google for this project. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu invited all service providers and entrepreneurs to partner with the staterun transporter.

Bar coded tickets, scanners and access control will be introduced on a pilot basis on major trains to tackle the problem of ticketless travel and ensure hassle-free travel for passengers.

Another focus area is cleanliness. Now, passengers across the country can use text messages and use the ‘Clean my Coach’ service. An additional 30,000 bio-toilets will be installed in the next fiscal year while waste segregation and recycling centres will be set up at A1 category stations.

For senior citizens, women and differently abled passengers, portable structures with bio-toilets on select stations will be made available.

Several measures have been unveiled to improve the quality of food. E-catering services will be extended from the existing 45 large stations to all 408 A1 and A class stations. Local cuisine of choice will be made available to passengers.

Ten more IRCTC operated and mechanised base kitchens will be set up to ensure fresh and hygienic supply of food. A new policy of multipurpose, as against existing single purpose stalls will be introduced in all stations where each stall can provide multiple services including milk products and over the counter medicines. Feasibility of providing an option to customers for drinking tea in kulhad is being explored.

To help old and disabled passengers requiring assistance at stations, the railways plans to expand the service of Rail Mitra Sewa at several more stations.

For women travelling with infants and children, there is good news too. Under the Janani Sewa, the railways will provide children’s menu items on trains.