In an effort to improve quality and efficiency of train services, the Indian Railways is setting up consultative committees at various levels as well as arranging for election special trains targeting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
The committees will be able to consult and contribute to railways administration, as informed to the parliament by the Minister of State for Railways, Manoj Sinha.
The aim behind announcing such committees was to connect railway administration with end users and various levels of the railway department so that quality of services could be improved. The committees would ensure better representation for travellers with railways administration.
He said that at the ministry level, there would be a National Railway Users consultative committee. At the head quarters level, there would be a zonal committee and at the divisional level, there would be zonal committees.
There would also be consultative committees for suburban railway users at South Eastern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Central Railways. There would be station committees at select, important stations.
An example for improving efficiency was that the ministry had taken a series of actions like cancelling contracts after it received almost 5000 complaints about catering on long distance and premium trains, lodged last year.
Action taken includes warning in over 1000 cases, fines in over 2000 cases and termination of contract in one case , all awarded as per gravity of offence.
The minister announced a slew of new measures: 10 sophisticated and mechanized base kitchen operated by IRCTC, extending e-catering services from 45 major stations to all A and A-1 class stations, introducing multi-purpose stalls at stations and making catering services optional rather than mandatory in trains. Passengers can book meals after checking PNR status railway.
The minister also suggested that Indian Railways may run Election special trains similar to festival special trains. This would be introduced to cater to demand in the peak season during election time, on particular routes.
The minister informed Lok Sabha that such special trains have been planned thanks to the growing demand. In reply to a supplementary, he said that suggestions given by MPs would be kept in mind.
The supplementary did not address the purpose of an election special train. But the minster noted that the there was great demand for such trains especially for natives of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who are working in other states and wanted to vote for elections being conducted in native states.
Many workers preferred not to change their constituencies when they travel to other places for work. This was despite the notice given by the Election Commission that workers in other states are free to vote in these states after filling up two forms: one to get enrolled in the electoral rolls of the new place and second to cancel their names form electoral rolls of their native state.
In response to another question, the Minister said that Antyodaya trains will operate on regular fares, but Hamsafar and Tejas trains would run on ‘dynamic pricing.’