To bring in more transparency and efficiency, the Ministry of Railways has decided to appoint young station directors at Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram railway stations in the State.
This follows a directive of Railways Minister Piyush Goyal to post “young, brilliant, and dynamic officers” to the posts of station directors at major railway stations. Previously, the Ministry had created the post of station directors at 75 A1 category stations in the country.
All the four stations in Kerala under the jurisdiction of the Southern Railway are A1 category stations. “The officers will be chosen from across different operational services of railways after due screening and scrutiny. They will be imparted special orientation training, focusing on coordination and dealing with the public,” said officials.
The station directors would ensure that the stations function as excellence centres for customers with the additional objective of ensuring vigilant and sensitive customer service and superior commercial sense, they said.
Development of station
The move comes at a time when the Kozhikode station is set to be developed under the Swiss Challenge Method. Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) was the lone bidder for the redevelopment of Kozhikode railway station when the deadline ended in July.
Earlier, a special purpose vehicle was created under the Union Ministries of Railways and Urban Development to redevelop Ernakulam Junction into a smart railway station.
An official statement of the Ministry said the station directors would be supported by cross-functional teams. They would be associated in the decision-making process related to proposals and execution of traffic facility and passenger amenities works at the respective stations.
Raising revenue
The station directors would be actively involved in the process of raising revenue from ‘non-fare box’ such as commercial advertisements at the stations.
“For this, the station directors will seek the assistance of officers and superiors of the respective departments,” it said.
The functions of the station directors and their teams will be to provide prompt, courteous and hassle-free service to customers and ensure cleanliness and hygiene at the station and stationary trains. They will monitor the working of booking and reservation office, punctuality of trains at the station, and timely placement and withdrawal of rakes at platforms. They will also be responsible for maintaining passenger amenities, upkeep of passenger enquiry system, monitoring catering and vending stalls, strengthening grievance redressal system and the security of passengers.
