New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday emphasised that providing a good travel experience to the poor and middle class remains the top priority of Indian Railways.
The minister told railway officials from across the country who attended a review meeting at Rail Bhawan here to work collectively towards this goal.
He highlighted that the sharp reduction in railway accidents and record freight loading have significantly improved the image of Indian Railways across the country. He also appreciated the effective operation of a large number of special trains during festivals, which helped meet the increased demand for travel.
The Railway Minister congratulated railway zones that have maintained high levels of punctuality of trains and particularly appreciated those that have improved their performance by ensuring more than 85 per cent punctuality despite operational challenges.
Highlighting the importance of passenger experience, he stated that railway stations are the face of Indian Railways before the public and must be kept clean and well-maintained. He urged officials to work with full dedication to ensure cleanliness and improved passenger amenities at all stations. Referring to the record allocation for railway modernisation in the past decade, he emphasised that officials must ensure optimal utilisation of funds to transform railway stations and enhance passenger facilities.
Vaishnaw stressed that crowd management during peak periods, especially festivals, should ensure that passengers can reach platforms and board trains smoothly and without inconvenience. He directed officials to prioritise the use of allocated funds for improving passenger convenience and accessibility.
The issue of pending land acquisition for ongoing railway projects was also discussed, and he directed officials to expedite the process and, if required, seek the expertise of experienced retired officers of state Revenue and Forest Departments to overcome bottlenecks.
Addressing the sensitive issue related to people living near railway tracks, the minister emphasised that livelihoods must not be adversely affected. He directed railway officials to adopt a humane and sensitive approach in resolving such matters, in coordination with state governments. He noted that this is a significant issue in many urban areas and requires timely and compassionate resolution.
The meeting also reviewed the earlier decision regarding the construction of rail underpasses. It was decided that, wherever feasible, convenient and accessible underpasses should be prioritised over foot overbridges for crossing railway tracks, both within station premises and outside. The minister noted that underpasses are more user-friendly and are likely to be used more frequently by the public.
It was further decided to undertake pilot projects in different parts of the country to construct such underpasses. These will be designed to facilitate movement not only for pedestrians but also for cycles, scooters and motorcycles, and in some cases, wider structures will allow movement of tractors and other vehicles. Designs will be tailored to meet the requirements of both urban and rural areas.
--IANS
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