Lok Sabha Question No. 5406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Action Plan for Better Passenger Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5406 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## ACTION PLAN FOR BETTER PASSENGER FACILITIES

†5406. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways are satisfied with the facilities being provided at the railway stations in the country particularly in small cities/towns;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has prepared any action plan for betterment of passenger facilities available at the railway stations in the country;
- (d) if so, the details of major efforts made in this direction particularly in Bilaspur zone in Chhattisgarh during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the  existing  mechanism  for  making  available  various  facilities  at railway stations to monitor their maintenance and to carry out their inspection?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5406 BY SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.03.2018 REGARDING ACTION PLAN FOR BETTER PASSENGER FACILITIES (a)  &  (b):  Improvement  to  Passenger  amenities  on  Indian  Railways  is  a continuous  process.  With  a  view  to  meet  the  expectations  of  the passengers, Indian Railways is making all out effort to provide improved facilities  at  the  stations  including  those  located  in  small  cities/towns. Indian  Railways  has  more  than  8500  Stations.  It  has  always  been  the endeavour of the Railways to provide adequate amenities to the passengers  at  stations.  Certain  amenities  are  provided  at  the  time  of construction  of  new  stations  based  on  anticipated  volume  of  traffic. Amenities  are  further  augmented  from  time  to  time  with  growth  in passenger traffic handled at stations, based on the felt need, expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds. In the recent past Indian Railways has taken various steps to improve the services and facilitate the passengers, some of which are given below. At stations:

- I. Lifts and Escalators at the stations for facilitating movement across platforms.
- II. Battery  Operated  Vehicles  for  carrying  passengers  before/after  the train journey, especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
3. III.
4. Yatri Mitra Sewa for passengers requiring wheel-chair assistance.
- IV. Well appointed Retiring Rooms, Waiting Halls and Executive Lounges to relax for passengers during transit.
6. V.
7. Wi-fi facility at 127 important stations on IR.

## In Reservations and travel:

- I. Introduction of the Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme known as  'VIKALP'  to  give  option  to  waitlisted  passengers  to  shift  to alternate train having vacant accommodation.
- II. Provision  of  facility  to  physically  handicapped  persons  to  book reserved tickets online.
- III. Introduction of paperless unreserved ticket booking through mobile phone.
- IV. Automatic  refund  of  confirmed/  Reservation  Against  Cancellation (RAC)/e-tickets on cancellation of trains.
- V. Enhancement of Senior Citizen Quota as well as quota earmarked for physically handicapped persons.
- VI. Making  provision  in the system  for  automatic  preparation  of reservation charts at least four hours before the scheduled departure of train.
- VII. Provision of facility to book available accommodation after preparation  of  first  reservation  chart  through  internet  as  well  as across  any  computerized  Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS) counter upto preparation of second reservation chart.
- VIII. Acceptance  of  all  International  Credit/Debit  cards  for  booking  of e-tickets through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC ) website.
- IX. The passengers having confirmed/RAC/Waitlisted PRS counter tickets may cancel the same through IRCTC website (www.irctc.co.in)  or  through  139  within  the  prescribed  time  limit and  the  refund  amount  maybe  collected  across  PRS  counter  on surrendering the original ticket.
- X. In order to facilitate cancellation of PRS  counter  tickets  at relatively smaller stations, one of the Unreserved Ticketing System( UTS) cum PRS counters (wherever PRS booking facility is available)  has  been  earmarked  for  granting  refund  beyond  the working  hours  of  PRS  counters/Current  counters.  This  facility  is available in respect of PRS counter tickets for those trains whose scheduled departure time is within the next 24 hours.
- XI. Establishment  of  Yatri  Ticket  Suvidha  Kendras  for  issuing  of tickets  through  public  private  partnership  for  establishment  and operation  of  computerised  Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS)cum Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) terminals.
- XII. Facility  for  booking  unreserved  ticket  including  platforms  tickets and  Season  Tickets  through  mobile  phone  in  the  6  suburban sections of IR in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Secunderabad and in Delhi - Palwal and Delhi-Ghaziabad sections of Northern Railway
- XIII. Commencement  of  concierge  services  with  facility  for  online booking of wheelchairs through IRCTC website at New Delhi and 22 other stations.
- XIV. Provision of  Automatic  Ticket  Vending  Machines  to  facilitate purchase of unreserved journey tickets.
- XV. Extension  of  e-ticketing  facility  to  foreign  debit/credit  cards  for foreign tourists and NRIs.
- XVI. Commissioning  of  online  booking  of  retiring  room  at  over  488 Railway stations.
17. (c)  &  (d):  Modernisation/  upgradation  of  passenger  amenities  at  railway station  in  Indian  Railways  is  a  continuous  and  on-going  process.  At present, upgradation of station is being undertaken under Adarsh Station scheme.  201  stations  including  8  stations  in  Bilaspur  zone  (South  East Central  Railway  -  out  of  which  4  stations  fall  under  Chhattisgarh),  have been identified under this Scheme during the last three years and current year.

(e): Regular inspections are conducSted by Officers, Service Improvement Group (SIG), Passenger Amenities Committee (PAC) & Passenger Services Committee (PSC) to monitor the availability and maintenance of passenger facilities  at  stations  and  remedial  measures  are  taken  as  and  when deficiencies are noted.

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