Amid complaints over increasing delays in train services, the Railways plan to re-work the timetable to identify trains impacted by maintenance works so that passengers can be informed beforehand.
In case, a train gets delayed during meal time, the passengers with reserved tickets will be provided with free food and water, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. “We will work towards passenger engagement, creating awareness and informing them in advance,” he said.
Mr. Goyal added that while small blocks for maintenance and safety-related works would continue throughout the week, mega blocks of six-seven hours would be taken up on Sundays.
The re-worked timetable would be ready by August 15 and the passengers would be informed about delays through SMSes and advertisement in newspapers.
GPS logger
The Railways would also introduce GPS logger on all trains that would help log the progress of each train on a real-time basis, which would then be uploaded on the railway website.
Mr. Goyal said the Ministry also planned to increase the production of coaches to standardise the rakes. “Additional coaches and rakes will be kept in each zone. If the incoming train is late, then the additional coach will be used to maintain the schedule of the outbound train, even if the incoming train is late,” he said.
On the complaints of overcharging for catering services, the Minister said while these had “greatly reduced,” the catering staff would soon get a hand-held device using which electronic bills would be generated.
Additionally, the government plans to set up CCTV cameras in 16 IRCTC kitchens to ensure that cleanliness was maintained.
