Railways to offer better quality and service to passengers now.
The Passenger Service Committee (PSC), constituted by Union Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee and headed by Derek O'Brien as its Chairman, visited South Central Railway at Rail Nilayam on Monday, and held a meeting with SCR General Manager M S Jayanth and other senior officials.
The meeting deliberated on various issues concerning passenger services on railways, and measures to optimize the same so as to ensure comfortable and convenient travel to rail users.
Later, interacting with the media, Derek O'Brien detailed the focus of the PSC which was set up to recommend steps concerning consumer insights on passenger services to the Railway Board. The Chairman said that amongst the issues of prime concern are those related to food, cleanliness and passenger grievances.
Derek O'Brien stated that the Committee had recommended the taking over of catering services by the Indian Railways from IRCTC, which has since been implemented by the Railway Board. A paradigm shift in the catering policy is on the anvil and will take some time for total implementation, he stated.
As part of the "Jan Aahar" initiative, low-priced food stalls are being set up at Railway Stations, which are reportedly earning a positive nod from passengers.
The Chairman added that SCR will see at least about 40 such stalls being set up in the near future. He stated that each Zonal Railway is taking up one train for the implementation of the model policy on catering - and on SCR, the Hyderabad - New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express is the train identified for the purpose. The stress in terms of the food policy is on QSCV - Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value.
Derek O'Brien said that over 50% of train reservations are being handled on the Internet, and in tune with the fact, the Committee's recommendation has been implemented by the Railways, based on which the reservations each day are open from 8am to 9am only for individual consumers - the bulk consumers can access Internet reservation only after 9am.
Commenting on the use of the Internet, the Chairman stated that the Indian Railway website is being planned to be made into a single stop for every requirement including complaints. Likewise, a single-number based 'public grievance' machinery will be set up across the country.
The concept of 'seva vahans', the carts for the use of disabled persons - already in use in Secunderbad and few other stations - is planned to be extended all over. A shift is planned with regard to porters carrying passenger baggage at Railway Stations. A new category of people called 'Yatri Sevaks' will be carrying passenger baggage at Railway Stations with the help of trolleys, thereby setting the tone for doing away with manual labour.
The Chairman added that housekeeping services on-board trains, which are currently available for 270 trains, will be extended to cover 350 trains.
Derek O'Brien had a word of praise for South Central Railways, and said that the zone ranks high in terms of passenger service parameters, including cleanliness.
Members of the Committee Sardar Amjad Ali, Sultan Singh, Manish Mitra and Mohammed Nadimul Haque were also present.
Courtesy: INN