New Delhi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has invited suggestions from the public to make the forthcoming Railway Budget citizen-oriented, and in turn the Railway ministry has received over 16,000 suggestions — ranging from the interesting, to the curious, to some that are downright bizarre.
A person suggested that Railways should implement a RFD-based push-button system on tickets that will connect to the RPF personnel on duty. When the Railway officials contacted him to ask if the technology was available anywhere in the world, he asked some time to get back with more information. The officials are still waiting for his answer.
A suggestion which the Railway finds feasible to implement is the announcement of the station's name the train is halted on. The person who made the suggestion argued that sometimes people do not know where the train is halted.
To keep the railway tracks on the stations clean, a person suggested that the toilets should have an auto-lock system when the train is halted. A recorded message can also be played to warn the passengers to vacate the toilets when the train is heading close to a station.
The officials overlooking the suggestion have been told to keep a keen eye and pursue the suggestions that are promising. The senders are also being contacted for the follow-up by the officials.
A person suggested that the fans can be fitted at the roof of the train so they rotate with the wind when the train is running. These fans can be connected to turbines and generate electricity that can be used inside the coaches. Another person suggests installing solar panels atop the coaches to produce electricity. It is worth a note that a pilot project of solar panels is underway in the Kalka-Shimla Railway.
A bizarre suggestion asked the Railways to employ well-educated and good-looking employees at the Munabao railway station, from where India-Pakistan Thar Express operates, to just appear superior to Pakistanis.
Another suggestion seems odd where the person asked Railways to employ nurses in selected trains to help the passengers dealing with ‘lifestyle diseases'.
Other suggestions that caught the eyes of the officials are, visibility of seats and berths on online ticket booking, premium charges for window seats, automated mineral water dispensers and tablets be issued to TTEs instead of charts.
