PATNA: The railways, which has announced plethora of amenities for passengers in the current fiscal, has decided to provide more amenities to senior citizens as well as elderly people while undertaking journey by trains.
According to a Railway Board official, the railways had announced in the current railway budget that ‘Rail Yatri Sevak’ would work round-the-clock at all major stations across the country to provide assistance to senior citizens and elderly people in boarding trains. These `yatri sevaks’ would work on the pattern of airport services and carry heavy luggage of elderly people on trolley at platforms and help them board their trains free of hassles, he said.
Under the plan, the railways has been in touch with several NGOs and voluntary social organizations requesting them to depute their men at important stations to perform their duty as ‘sevak’ for elderly people. They would be paid nominal charges as well for carrying luggage of passengers who are sick or helpless to carry their luggage themselves on railway platforms, he said.
According to sources, the ‘sevak’ services was recently introduced in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Thiruvanthapuram where elderly passengers, including women, are greatly relieved while boarding their trains from these stations, sources said, adding this service is available round-the-clock at these important stations.
Impressed with the response to `sevak’ services, the railways has taken a decision to introduce it at several important stations across the country. The railways is in constant touch with the service providers to make available trolleys and `sevaks’ at more major stations to give relief to elderly people during journey, a Board official said, adding the railways would provide little space on trolleys for advertisement of popular brand products.
According to an ECR official, this service is likely to be introduced at Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar Terminal soon to cater to the needs of senior citizens and elderly people. The ECR would follow the Board’s guidelines while executing this plan, he said.
That apart, the railways would soon announce a popular telephone number in every zone through which elderly and needy passengers could book trolley in advance.