The Hindu : Minister takes round of railway station

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

Other States

Other States - New Delhi

Minister takes round of railway station

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 3. The Minister of State for Railways, Bandaru Dattatraya, today expressed concern over the fleecing and extortion of passengers by the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force personnel in unreserved compartments and directed officials concerned to stop this menace by taking deterrent action against erring police personnel.

Mr. Dattatraya, who had gone on a surprise visit to New Delhi railway station this morning to see the state of cleanliness and working of other civic amenities, informed that the number of unreserved compartments would be increased from two to four in all long distance mail and express trains.

Expressing concern over the state of cleanliness of tracks, the Minister ordered officials to improve sanitation in this regard. The adequacy of manual cleanliness of tracks would be assessed and a plan would be worked out for proper cleaning of tracks, Mr. Dattatraya said, adding that mechanised cleaning of trains would be extended to 14 stations including New Delhi Railway Station besides extending train cleaning facilities to 50 major stations.

Informing that modular toilets would be introduced in over a thousand coaches this year, the Minister said unreserved computerised ticketing system, already introduced at 23 stations of Northern Railway, would be extended to 23 more stations to decongest booking centres. He also announced that by June this year, New Delhi Railway Station would have a cyber cafe with 12 terminals on cost sharing basis with a private agency at a cost of Rs.15 lakhs.

The Minister also heard the grievances of porters who urged him to increase the existing rate of Rs.9 per 35 kg. of luggage. Mr. Dattatraya assured porters that their grievances relating to winter uniform would be looked into. At the railway station, he inspected unreserved computerised reservation system, toilets, water taps, catering stalls, waiting rooms, manual cleaning of tracks and also interacted with passengers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Sheila promises a better summer

Clean City award for capital hailed

A fatal intervention

Four gangsters nabbed

Plastic in positive light

Minister takes round of railway station