In order to take stock of the rush of passengers during the festive season, Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal visited New Delhi station on Friday and saw the arrangements made to tackle the demand for trains.
‘I went around the station and am satisfied with the arrangement. Though I believe there will be always enough scope for further improvement,’ Bansal said after visiting a few platforms at the station.
New Delhi station, which caters to about 300 trains and about 5 lakh passengers daily, witnessed a record of about 7.5 lakh passengers during the festive season.
Asked whether there is any concrete plan to tackle Chhath festival rush on a permanent basis because it has become an annual phenomenon, he said ‘The purpose of my visit was to see that. During the last few days, the footfalls at different stations in the capital were about 17 lakh. This is a large number. Our efforts are to improve the service further.’
Bansal had a first hand experience of passengers’ rush as he went inside the sleeper coach of Bihar-bound Magadh Express. All coaches of the trains were overcrowded.
‘I also talked to a few passengers. The requirement and expectations of people will be always for more, so our efforts are also in that direction. There have been an increase of 40 per cent traffic than normal due to the festive season. Mostly, the rush is towards eastern India due to Chhath festival,’ he said.
Besides 59 regular trains which are bound for eastern region towards Bihar, an 16 additional trains were pressed into service. ‘But all these trains are going full due to the festival,’ he said. Bansal noticed a few broken chairs kept in a corner and instructed officials concerned to remove them. He also noticed a male passenger inside the ladies waiting hall and wanted that there should be checking to prevent such unauthorised entry.
In order to see the catering arrangement at platforms, Bansal visited ‘Jan Ahaar’ outlet.
‘I had gone to Jan Ahaar outlet. People were taking food and they were satisfied with the food. But I have made certain observations. Later on, we will discuss and see what we can do to further improvement of the service,’ he said.
About the cleanliness, he said ‘in the given circumstances, I find cleanliness around the station and people are moving without any difficulty.’
Bansal also visited the upcoming special lounge at the station. The lounge has been constructed on the pattern of airport lounge where passengers can pay and avail the service like shower, food, magazines and newspapers.
‘I went around the station and am satisfied with the arrangement. Though I believe there will be always enough scope for further improvement,’ Bansal said after visiting a few platforms at the station.
New Delhi station, which caters to about 300 trains and about 5 lakh passengers daily, witnessed a record of about 7.5 lakh passengers during the festive season.
Asked whether there is any concrete plan to tackle Chhath festival rush on a permanent basis because it has become an annual phenomenon, he said ‘The purpose of my visit was to see that. During the last few days, the footfalls at different stations in the capital were about 17 lakh. This is a large number. Our efforts are to improve the service further.’
Bansal had a first hand experience of passengers’ rush as he went inside the sleeper coach of Bihar-bound Magadh Express. All coaches of the trains were overcrowded.
‘I also talked to a few passengers. The requirement and expectations of people will be always for more, so our efforts are also in that direction. There have been an increase of 40 per cent traffic than normal due to the festive season. Mostly, the rush is towards eastern India due to Chhath festival,’ he said.
Besides 59 regular trains which are bound for eastern region towards Bihar, an 16 additional trains were pressed into service. ‘But all these trains are going full due to the festival,’ he said. Bansal noticed a few broken chairs kept in a corner and instructed officials concerned to remove them. He also noticed a male passenger inside the ladies waiting hall and wanted that there should be checking to prevent such unauthorised entry.
In order to see the catering arrangement at platforms, Bansal visited ‘Jan Ahaar’ outlet.
‘I had gone to Jan Ahaar outlet. People were taking food and they were satisfied with the food. But I have made certain observations. Later on, we will discuss and see what we can do to further improvement of the service,’ he said.
About the cleanliness, he said ‘in the given circumstances, I find cleanliness around the station and people are moving without any difficulty.’
Bansal also visited the upcoming special lounge at the station. The lounge has been constructed on the pattern of airport lounge where passengers can pay and avail the service like shower, food, magazines and newspapers.