Enhanced Passenger Facilities by Indian Railways

3. Enhanced Passenger Facilities by Indian Railways It was way back in 1832, at Madras (now Chennai) that the honchos of the East India Company rolled out grandiose plans to construct railways where they were the suzerains. It will be a matter of considerable interest to Indologists, historians and those fascinated in the history and transformation of the transportation sector in India to appreciate that the country's first train, Red Hill Railway (built by Arthur Cotton to transport granite for road-building), chugged from Red Hills to the Chintadripet bridge in the year 1837 in Madras. Somewhere in 1845, the Godavari Dam Construction Railway was established by Cotton at Dowleswaram in Rajahmundry, to supply stone for the construction of a dam over the Godavari River in present day Andhra Pradesh, then part of the Madras Presidency. However, the landmark event was India's first passenger train, hauled by three steam locomotives (Sahib, Sindh and Sultan), that ran for 34 kilometres between Bori Bunder and Thane, with 400 people onboard in 14 carriages, on 16 April 1853. This momentous event had metamorphosed India forever. Since then Indian Railways has been appropriately called the Lifeline of the Nation. This gargantuan transporter plays a pivotal role in fuelling the economic growth of the country. Railways are the largest integrating force which acts as an adhesive for a country as diverse as India. It is a humungous task and is verily the spine of the country’s economic development. This massive organisation resolutely and relentlessly strives to provide varied facilities and services at stations and on board its trains. Based on passenger feedback, quality of services are constantly augmented and tweaked to improve the variegated basket. These include amenities such as seating arrangements, lighting facilities, fans, drinking water, better equipped toilets, waiting halls, retiring rooms, foot over-bridges, catering units and signages at various stations across the country. Besides these traditional services, railways have risen to the occasion to proffer escalators, ticket vending machines, executive lounges, mobile and laptop charging points, electronic train indicator boards to meet with the aspirations of a burgeoning travelling public and cast the archaic outlook to become more latter-day and contemporary. Special attention has been placed on the special-abled passengers (Divyangjans) by providing earmarked reserved berths, improved signages, ramps, special toilet facilities, dedicated parking spaces, discrete toilets and water taps to make them inclusive in the system and consequently railways also eschew the hitherto Burra Saheb attitude of the past and become more humane in their approach towards dealing with passengers. Expansive proportion of funds has been allocated by the Ministry of Railways, over the last few years in particular to augment passenger amenities at stations (the boarding, intermediate and terminal point for any traveller). It would be noteworthy to mention that in the year 2017-18 the expenditure on variegated passenger amenities was Rs 1,287 crores, which outlay was enhanced to Rs 1,658 crores in the subsequent year. The Ministry of Railways as per the latest policy guidelines have categorised the entire spectrum of 8,738 stations as suburban, non-suburban or halt category of stations. In order to cater to the vast number of women travellers, Baby Feeding Facilities have been organised. This path breaking, neoteric measure provides privacy and comfort to the lactating mother and her child. Recall the talismanic movie Gandhi, where Ben Kingsley essaying the role of the Mahatma passes on his turban across a river to a woman feeding an infant on the banks of a river. The scene is etched in the alcoves of cine goers’ minds. But the moot point is to protect the modesty of women where several predators are on the prowl. Further in order to expand the portfolio of passenger services, the recourse of booking concierge service has been provided on the hugely fabled 139 number which is normally used by the travelling public to monitor PNR, seat number, fare enquiries and booking of meals while travelling. Additionally the concept of Saarthi Sewa has been unleashed at 63 important railway stations of the country. At these stations, 110 Battery Operated Vehicles (BOVs) have been launched which cater to women passengers, the differently abled and senior citizens. Several NGOs and corporate entities have been co-opted in this laudable drive which is run without any additional charge and is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. Another significant step for the geriatric passengers and the differently abled (Divyangjan) passengers has been the Yatri Mitra Sewa. IRCTC has been nominated to provide any form of assistance required to these individuals. As a major milestone, Railways have initiated to transform a station into what is now called the “Happiness Junction” station. The first of its kind is at Sonepur Junction which is part of the East Central Railway. The innovation is to engage a passenger waiting to board a train in a constructive and enthralling manner. Under the programme, books, journals, newspapers and different cultural activities have been organised. These are some out-of-the-box approaches which have been initiated to trigger a change in the mindset of the Indian passenger travelling by trains. “Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life,” wrote Pythagoras, the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher. Indian Railways has the vision and mission to become as friendly as possible.