12 reasons why 59% of India thinks Suresh Prabhu is doing a good job with Railways
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About 59% of India, according to a survey released by Inshorts and Ipsos today, believes that railway passenger experience has improved. This number should be a booster for rail minister Suresh Prabhu.
The last two years have seen Prabhu bringing in a slew of passenger-friendly reforms in his bid to pull the national transporter up from chronic under-investment and increase its spend by almost 285% over the next 5 years.
Prabhu plan for a $5 billion fund for redevelopment of railway stations is also close to reality. The fund, which has a tenure of seven years, is part of the minister's push to create a world-class experience for passengers.
So in the next few years when you book a train ticket, expect these 12 things
Reach any part of India in just 12 hours
Last month Prabhu announced four new categories of trains, one for unreserved passengers and three for reserved ones, which will be operational in the next couple of months. He has also announced bullet trains to reduce the travel time of the passengers considerably. Prabhu said his dream is to travel from one part of the country to another in 12 hours. Here's what in store
a) Humsafar Express: A fully AC train with optional service for meals
b) Tejas: It will showcase the future of train travel in India with operating speeds of 130 kmph
c) Uday Express: Overnight double-decker train, which will run on busiest of routes. It will have 40% more passenger capacity
d) Antyodaya Express: A superfast train for those travelling on long routes and will be fully unreserved
Connect while you travel
High-speed WiFi is already in place at key stations. Prabhu has a target of 400 stations by 2018.
Choose your food
Train passengers will soon be able to order burgers and pizzas of their choice on the Indian Railways website and have them delivered right to their coaches. For last-minute purchases, vendor boys will be waiting on platforms with ready-to-serve burgers, pizzas and Indian thalis.
Leading quick service restaurants (QSR) such as Domino's Pizza, Burger King, Subway, KFC and Pizza Hut are opening up stores at railway stations.
Passengers will also soon get to decide if they want to eat railway food, and not pay for it. They will have the option to drop meals while booking tickets in Rajdhanis and Shatabdis.
You are covered
Railways launched a scheme allowing a person to get an insurance cover of up to Rs 10 lakh on booking a train ticket online by paying less than one rupee. A person booking a train ticket through the IRCTC website will be able to opt for travel insurance cover for a premium of 92 paise only.
For the executives
Prabhu is bringing the airport experience to railway stations with new 'executive lounges'. IRCTC will be setting up these lounges at 49 locations, which will have facilities such as Wifi, buffet services, wash and change, concierge services for pre-departure and post-arrival assistance to passengers of all classes of travel.
Book a retiring room
Suresh Prabhu has announced that passengers can now book retiring rooms on an hourly basis instead of the usual 12 or 24-hour slots. This facility will permit passengers to book retiring rooms for a minimum of three hours and a maximum of 48 hours.
Increased number of coaches
You don't have to fret over limited Rajdhani, Shatabdi seats. The Railways have increased the number of coaches in these trains so that more people can be accommodated.
Go mobile
Mobile tickets are valid for all trains now. Not just that, online booking services will now be available in several regional languages as well. Automatic ticket vending machines have also been installed.
Bedrolls
Most of us have struggled for bedrolls while travelling, a facility which was earlier available only for those travelling in AC compartments. Now the bedroll kit scheme has been extended to all ticket-holders.
The bedroll kit can booked online through IRCTC website. After booking a ticket from the website, traveller can book for bedrolls also. The bedrolls would be delivered to the passenger at his/her berth. Alternatively, passengers can pick up the kits at the IRCTC counter half-an-hour before the train's departure by showing the ticket.
Clean my coach
Passengers will be able to demand cleaning of a toilet via SMS. The audit will be done by third party and action to be taken based on passenger feedback
Never miss your stop
You need no longer be afraid of missing the station of your destination because you overslept. There will be a wake-up call facility on many trains.
Don't like something? Tweet it
A responsive 24x7 complaint resolution mechanism employed through the use of social media is up and running. Tweet a problem or complaint and you shall get a prompt reply from the Indian railways.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/12-reasons-why-59-of-india-thinks-suresh-prabhu-is-doing-a-good-job-with-railways/articleshow/54016454.cms
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Performance pays, as Mr. Prabhu has demonstrated. Best thing to have happened to Indian Railways since WAP 5
@PARIKRAMA @Abingdonboy @arp2041 @Nilgiri @nair @Levina @jbgt90 @illusion8 @Ankit Kumar 002 @litefire @proud_indian @gslv mk3 @RISING SUN
I am not a defense expert. Though he is not too keen on procurement but he seems to stress on indegenous production which was very important. He has claimed to bring down the imports and exports are up to 330 million and targets 2 billion export by 2019. He has inducted tejas. Airforce seems to show interest in tejas upgrade programs. Navy is doing well with indegenous torpedos, destroyers. He is regarded highly by likes of Baba Kalyani. Private companies are showing interest in defense sector like never before. He seems to be the one who is not willing to give in to the demands of imported weapons easily stressing more on make in India. Dhanush Howitzer is being inducted. I hope history will remember him as the person who transformed India from importing to exporting nation.
But I think it will increase with time....these are still early days
