The Eastern Railway has stepped up efforts to improve the quality of services, including catering and security, provided to the passengers in the trains and railway stations. Women's security is on the top agenda of the Eastern Railway with lady constables being provided in trains, officials said on Monday.
Under <g data-gr-id="27">Swachh</g> Bharat Mission special drives across <g data-gr-id="28">railway</g> premises are also being conducted.
"Ladies Special Trains (EMU) are escorted. Late night EMUs and early morning EMUs are also escorted, including by lady constables. Extra vigil is kept by escort parties over ladies compartments of mail, express and passenger trains," an official said, explaining about the steps taken by the Eastern Railway for women's security. The Eastern Railway has also conducted drive against males travelling in ladies compartments and 16, 310 persons were apprehended.
In a bid to improve the quality of food, regular inspections and week long drives are undertaken by officials, and all the officers travelling on duty have been instructed to inspect pantry car and food quality. "We undertake intensive cleaning of pantry cars and officials undertake <g data-gr-id="41">random</g> inspection of pantry cars and on-board catering services. Drastic action is taken for any lapse," an official said, explaining about the steps taken to improve the quality of services.
Talking about the future plans to improve catering services, he said that sites for <g data-gr-id="39">base</g> kitchen at Howrah, Sealdah and Asansol have been selected.Besides trains, special effort are being taken to clean the railway stations also. "<g data-gr-id="37">Mechanized</g> cleaning has been introduced in all A1, AII and most B&C category stations. Rag picking contracts, garbage removal contracts at all A1, A, <g data-gr-id="36">B,C</g> &D category stations have recently started," an official said.
The workshops of the Railways like Kanchrapara, Liluah, Jamalpur have also performed well and given good outputs as per expectations.