The Passenger Service Committee (PSC), constituted by Mamata Banerjee, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, headed by Shri Derek O’Brien, Chairman visited South Central Railway today, i.e. 20th September, 2010 and held a meeting with Shri M.S.Jayanth, General Manager 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. Shri Sardar Amjad Ali, Shri Sultan Singh, Shri Manish Mitra and Shri Mohammed Nadimul Haque, Members of the Committee were also present.
Later, interacting with the media, Shri Derek O’Brien detailed the focus of the PSC which was set up for recommending steps concerning consumer insights on passenger services to Railway Board for implementation. Amongst the issues of prime concern are those related to food, cleanliness and passenger grievances, the Chairman informed.
Shri Derek O’Brien stated that the Committee had recommended the taking over of catering services by 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. As a part of the same, ‘Jan Aahar’ low-priced food stalls are being set up at Railway Stations which are earning a positive nod from the rail users, going to prove the commitment of Indian Railways towards its social responsibility. SCR will see at least about 40 such stalls being set up in the near future, he added. Elaborating on the subject, the Chairman stated that each Zonal Railway is taking up one train for 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, which denotes Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value.
Shri Derek O’Brien informed that over 50% of train reservations are being handled on the internet and in tune with the same, the Committee’s recommendation has been implemented by the Railways basing on which, the reservations each day are open from 8.00 am to 9.00 am only for individual consumers and the bulk consumers can access internet reservation only after 9.00 am, thereby protecting the interests of individual rail users. Commenting on the use of internet, the Chairman stated that the Indian Railway website is being planned to be made as a single stop for every requirement including complaints, etc. Likewise, a single number based ‘public grievance’ machinery will be set up across the country.
The concept of ‘Seva Vahans’, the carts for use of disabled persons which is already implemented in Secunderbad and few other stations, is planned to be extended all over. A distinct shift is planned with regard to porters carrying passenger baggage at Railway Stations. A new category of people termed as ‘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. House keeping services on-board the trains which are presently available for 270 trains will be extended to cover 350 trains, the Chairman added.
Shri Derek O’Brien had a word of praise for South Central Railway and said that the zone definitely ranks high in terms of passenger service parameters, including cleanliness.