Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that her Ministry proposes to introduce modern trolleys at all important railway stations which will be handled by uniformed attendants to assist senior citizens and women passengers in boarding and alighting from coaches, along with their luggage comfortably.
Presenting the Railway Budget for 2010-11 in Parliament, the Minister also said that the Railways has received many complaints about allotment of rakes. She said the procedure will be streamlined and to start with, allotment of iron ore rakes would be made on a scientific basis and this would be accessible through the web to ensure transparency. The Minister informed the Parliament that this system will be personally monitored by Member Traffic, Railway Board.
Banerjee said that her Ministry is going for a special drive for improving passenger amenities and cleanliness. She said Railways have already introduced Janata Ahar, economically priced food, in many stations. The Minister said since Railways has received several complaints, it is decided to provide catering departmentally in selected trains. The catering policy is under revision and will be finalized as early as possible.
The Minister said to provide basic facility of clean drinking water, six new bottling plants at Ambala, Amethi, Mal, Nasik, Farakka and Trivandrum through the PPP route will be started with the mandate that bottled fresh water will be provided at stations at much cheaper rates.
The Minister said a major thrust is being given to the development of passenger amenities. Financial powers of field officers have been increased for quick execution of works. Mamata Banerjee said Railways is projected to spend a record of Rs.1,302 crore in 2010-11 for passenger amenities.
Banerjee said that to strengthen the present sports infrastructure, her Ministry proposes to set up five Sports Academies at Delhi, Secunderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. She also proposed to provide astro-turfs for the development of hockey at more places.
The Railway Budget also provides for increased employment opportunities to sportspersons. The Minister said that to mark the Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in New Delhi, the Railways proposes to run a Commonwealth Exhibition Train to spread the message.
