PROVISION OF PASSSENGER AMENITIES
ON INDIAN
RAILWAYS
1. GENERAL:
1.1.
With the quickening pace of
modernisation now sweeping the country, the Railway travelers today expect much
more from the System than they did in the past.
1.2
To be able to fulfill this increased
expectation on the part of our passengers, it is necessary that we take another
look at the quantum of facilities provided at our stations, and lay down
certain standards to follow policy initiatives for ensuring high quality
passenger amenities. This is of
particular importance in view of the year 2006-07 having been declared as the
year of “ Passenger service with a smile”
in 2006, and his thrust on bringing about a perceptible improvement in “Touch
and Feel” items, which affect passenger satisfaction the most .
1.2.
While planning for
provision/augmentation of stations, due consideration needs to be given to the
importance of the station from point of view of passenger traffic. Stations have, therefore, been divided into
seven categories.
2. CATEGORISATION OF STATIONS:
2.1.
Stations have been categorised
in seven categories, i.e. A1, A, B, C, D, E & F depending upon the earnings
which is an indicator of the passenger traffic.
Criteria for categorisation of stations are enclosed as Annexure ‘A’.
2.2.
All suburban stations have been
included in category ‘C’ in order to accord a higher priority to these stations
in view of a large number of passengers using them.
2.3.
The categorisation shall be
reviewed every five years. However, the
next review will be carried out in F.Y- 2007-08, based on the earnings of
2006-07- to be worked as per para 2.4 below.
The number of stations falling under various categories as per December,
2003 review, would remain unchanged till next review is done.
2.4.
Annual
Passenger Earnings: This is an important parameter for deciding
upon the category of a station. It
consists of earnings from both reserved and unreserved passengers. With introduction of PRS, the earnings
accruing at a PRS center may not reflect the actual earnings of that station. Therefore, earnings in respect of reserved
passengers should be taken on the basis of Passengers boarding the trains from
the station and the same should be obtained from various PRS centers from where
the passengers for those stations are booked.
In respect of earnings from unreserved passengers, the data should be
collected from the tickets sold, through SPTM/UTS, card tickets, etc. The method for calculating earnings from UTS
(unreserved ticketing system) for passengers boarding the trains at a station
would be same as that for PRS.
3. MINIMUM ESSENTIAL
AMENITIES(MEA):
3.1.
When a station is constructed,
certain minimum amenities are required to be provided at each category of
station (on the basis of projected traffic/earnings). These were earlier termed as basic
amenities/infrastructural facilities and will now be called Minimum Essential Amenities(MEA).
3.2.
Minimum Essential Amenities
required to be provided in each category of station are listed in Annexure ‘B’. Norms for Quantum of Minimum Essential Amenities
are prescribed in Annexure ‘C’. Availability of these amenities will have to
be ensured. Railways will immediately
undertake a survey to confirm availability of the minimum amenities as per the
prescribed scale, at all the stations on the basis of passenger traffic, to be
worked out based on para 2.3 and take necessary
action for removing all deficiencies in the MEA within 2 years. Subsequently, quinquenial review is to be
conducted with respect to availability of minimum essential amenities vis-a-vis
category of stations at that time.
4. RECOMMENDED AMENITIES: Provision of Amenities as per recommended
norms.
4.1.
The availability of amenities
at station as per norms of “Minimum Essential Amenities” (vide Annexure ‘B’
& ‘C’) may not be commensurate with the actual passenger traffic dealt at
the station. Hence, the requirement of actual amenities based on traffic as per
the norms laid down in Annexure ‘D’
should be worked out and any augmentation based on this, will be known as
Recommended Amenities.
4.2. Powers of GM of the Railway to review –
In
case quantum of amenities as worked out on the basis of norms for Recommended
Amenities in Annexure D is less than quantum prescribed for Minimum Essential
Amenities in Annexure ‘C’, the actual quantum of Minimum Essential
Amenities to be provided could be
reduced, with the approval of GM and Board should be intimated of the
same. No further delegation is permitted
for such approval.
4.3 Provision of
recommended level of amenities at stations, which is a parameter of adequacy of
the scale of amenities provided as per actual passenger strength, has not
received adequate attention. Rlys should review the existing facilities
vis-a-vis requirements for recommended amenities and a time-bound action plan
be made for augmenting shortfalls, as a
thrust area.
5. DESIRABLE AMENITIES:
5.1.
Desirable amenities are those
amenities which are considered desirable to improve customer satisfaction and
interface process at the station. The
quantum of these amenities would depend
upon the category of the station. A
comprehensive list of the desirable amenities is given in Annexure ‘E’.
5.2.
It should be noted that
provision of Desirable amenities need not wait for complete provision of the
Recommended Amenities. Various amenities out of the list given in Annexure ‘E’
should be provided based on the need and relative importance of the station.
6.
UPGRADED
AMENITIES AT MODEL STATIONS:
6.1.
For the purpose
of upgradation of amenities, some stations have been selected as Model
Stations, which include all A1, A &B category stations. Such stations would
be provided with the level of “Desirable
Amenities” specified for the category (as given in Annexure – E).
6.2.
The amenities
requiring less expenditure should be provided first and completed at all model stations
(presently 578) by 31.12.2008 and the balance amenities as per Annexure E to
the extent feasible should be provided
at model stations by 31.12.2009.
6.3.
Wherever
amenities listed in Annexure E are available at selected stations, they should
be improved in aesthetics and look. This
includes furniture in retiring rooms, booking office etc. Public-private
partnership should be leveraged for upgradation of stations, toilets, waiting
rooms/halls, retiring rooms, etc
7. DISPLAY OF AVAILABLE AMENITIES:
At
each station, a list shall be displayed in Station Manager/Master’s room
showing the quantum of Minimum Essential Amenities required to be provided for
that category of station,as per these guidelines, vis-a-vis the amenities
actually available. The details of other
amenities available at the station should also be displayed.
8. AUGMENTATION OF THE EXISTING
AMENITIES IN A PLANNED MANNER:
PREPARATION OF
MASTER PLANS
8.1 The Zonal Railways shall immediately carry
out a survey of available amenities at
stations in relation to those listed in the Annexures.
8.2
Drawing from the results of
this survey, a list of the Minimum Essential Amenities, Recommended and
Desirable Amenities to be provided, should then be separately drawn up
station-wise for each route. The Master Plan for each station should show
the amenities required.
8.3
These lists form the basis for
drawing up the Divisional Action plans.
Action Plans so formulated should then be amalgamated into one General
Action Plan and inter-se priorities for different works assigned.
8.4
Minimum Essential Amenities
should be provided first as per the scale at all classes of stations.
Thereafter, priority should be given for augmenting amenities to recommended
level at A1, A, B & C category stations.
8.5
Keeping the normal allocation
of funds, under the Plan Heads “Passenger Amenities” in view, a time –frame be
allocated to each phase of the General Action Plan. Low cost amenities items
for which funds can easily be earmarked, can be taken up earlier than those
requiring heavy outlay even if the latter are higher in the priority. Remaining works should be prioritised in a
manner such that, gaps in minimum essential amenities, recommended amenities
and desirable amenities are filled up, generally in that order.
8.6
Minimum Essential Amenities as
prescribed in Annexure ‘B’ & ‘C’ (subject to instructions contained in para
4.2 above), shall be provided as part of the concerned Plan Head at the time of
construction of new stations.
Elimination of shortfall in Minimum Essential Amenities at existing
stations and augmentation of any facility at a station shall, however, be
charged under Plan Head “Passenger Amenities”.
9. OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS:
9.1 Definition of Platform: Island platform should be treated as single
platform for provision of Minimum Essential Amenities.
9.2 Following
aspects should also be kept in view while upgrading amenities at the stations:
(i)
All toilets should be gradually
converted to Pay & Use toilets as per guidelines issued
(ii)
All the signage at the station
should be standardised.
(iii)
For location of signage, a plan
should be made for each station.
(iv)
All stalls should be made
modular and reduced in size.
(v)
Effort should be made to avoid
cooking activites on the platform and instead beverage vending machines and
sale of pre cooked and packed food should be encouraged. Effort should also be
taken to reduce the number of trolleys
to minimum.
(vi)
Ban-merries should be provided
at A&B class stations.
(vii)
The number of trolleys and
catering stalls under the platform shelter should be reduced to a minimum.
(viii)
There should be effort to
reduce the stalls to the bare minimum.
(ix)
In the circulating area, proper
traffic movement flow plan should be made.
Proper landscaping in the circulating area should also be
developed. Wherever circulation areas
are redesigned, altered, or whenever stations are congested, possibility of
providing FOB landings directly into circulating area should be examined as it
decongests main platforms. There should
be proper segregation of incoming and outgoing passengers, wherever considered
necessary (Detailed guidelines have been issued.
(x)
Automatic vending machines
should be encouraged to replace existing vending stalls.
(xi)
The enquiry and Booking Offices
should be specially brightened up at all the stations.
(xii)
The illumination at the
stations should be improved.
(xiii)
All unauthorized entry points
into the stations irrespective of their class should be closed excepting the
specified exit and entry.
10. AMENITIES
FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PASSENGERS:
10.1
As
per extant instructions, Short term facilities, consisting of
following 7 items are to be provided at all stations:
(i) Provision of standard ramp with railing for
barrier free entry.
(ii) Earmarking at least two parking lots
for vehicles used by disabled persons.
(iii) Provision of a non-slippery walkway
from parking lot to building
(iv) Provision of signage of appropriate
visibility.
(v) Provision of at least one drinking
water tap suitable for use by a disabled person.
(vi)Provision of at least one toilet on the
ground floor.
(vii) “May I help You” booth.
Above
facilities have already been provided at all A1 &A category stations, and
are now being extended to all B category stations which is targeted by 2007.
This has to be ensured, followed by their progressive provision at other
category stations.
10.2 As per extant instructions, Long-terms
facility, comprising of following 2 items are to be provided:
(i) Provision of facility for inter-platform
transfer.
(ii) Engraving on edges of platforms.
Above
facilities are planned to be taken up after provision of short-term facilities.
Regarding
inter-platform transfer, provision of 1 in 12 ramps/lifts to existing
FOBs/Subways may not be feasible as a
general solution. This facility has to be mainly provided through
pathways at the end of platforms for handicapped passengers, on wheelchairs (to
be provided free of cost), duly escorted by coolies(on payment), as per present
practice. Accordingly, pathways at platform ends, wherever not existing presently
, should be provided in a time bound manner, beginning with A1 and A category
stations. Moreover, these should be properly provided with precast CC blocks at
track crossings etc and laid to accurate level,to ensure a smooth ride for handicapped persons on wheel chairs,
without need for lifting at any stage. The other long-term facility, viz.,
engravings on platform edges may also be taken up progressively beginning with
A1 and A category stations.
11. MAINTENANCE
OF PASSENGER AMENITIES:
11.1It
is important to maintain the amenities provided at all the stations in good
working order at all times. Maintenance
staff shall carry out repairs needed to restore the amenity to functional
order, immediately after receipt of information from the Station Master/Station
Manager. Hygiene and cleanliness should
be an important activity for day to day monitoring.
11.2
General Manager shall arrange to provide adequate imprest with Station masters
of stations where Railways maintenance staff are not headquartered, to enable
them organise expeditious repairs to
small items of passenger amenities such as handpumps/taps, water trolleys,
clock, light/fans, urinal/latrines and furniture at the station.
12.0
PASSENGER AMENITY BOOKLETS:
Additions/Modifications to the passenger amenities
available at the stations should be incorporated in the data base &
Passenger Amenities Management System (PAMS) and printed in the form of
Passenger Amenity Booklets of each division at the end of the financial year. The details of Passenger Amenities available
at stations should be updated and sent every year to Board in floppies/E-mail
in the format already circulated as well in hard copies.
ANNEXURE
– A
CATEGORIES OF STATIONS FOR
PROVISION OF
PASSENGER AMENITIES
S.No.
|
Category
|
Criteria
|
1.
|
A1
|
Non-Suburban stations with an annual passenger
earning of more than Rs. 50 crore
|
2.
|
A
|
Non-suburban stations with an annual passenger
earnings of Rs. 6 crore and upto Rs 50
crore.
|
3.
|
B
|
I.
Non suburban stations with an annual
passenger earnings between Rs. 3 crore
to Rs. 6 crore
II.
Stations of tourist importance, or
an important junction station (to be decided by G.M.)
|
4.
|
C
|
All subsurban stations *
|
5.
|
D
|
Non suburban stations with passenger earnings between Rs. 1 and Rs. 3 crore
|
6.
|
E
|
Non suburban stations with passenger earnings less than Rs. 1 crore
|
7.
|
F
|
Halts
|
* For
stations dealing with both suburban/non-suburban traffic, the Rly may take a
view regarding upgradation of classification depending upon station earnings,
quantum of non-suburban traffic, etc
Note: Annual Passenger Earnings at the station for
the purpose of the amenities shall be worked out as per para 2.4 of the
instructions.
*****
ANNEXURE - B
MINIMUM ESSENTIAL
AMENITIES AT EACH CATEGORY OF STATION
Sl
No
|
Amenities
|
STATION CATEGORY
|
|
A1
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
1.
|
Booking
Facility
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
2.
|
Drinking
water
Piped/Hand
Pump
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
3.
|
Waiting
hall
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
4.
|
Seating
arrangement
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
5.
|
Platform
shelter
Shady
trees
|
Yes
-
|
Yes
-
|
Yes
-
|
Yes
-
|
Yes
-
|
Yes
|
-
Yes
|
6.
|
Urinals
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
7.
|
Latrines
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
8.
|
Platforms -
High level-
Medium
level-
Rail
level-
|
Yes
-
-
|
Yes
-
-
|
-
Yes
-
|
Yes
-
-
|
-
Yes
-
|
-
-
Yes
|
-
-
Yes
|
9.
|
Lighting
#
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes@
|
10.
|
Fans
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
11.
|
Foot
over bridge
|
Yes*
|
Yes*
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12.
|
Time
Table Display
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
13.
|
Clock
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
14.
|
Water
cooler
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15
|
Public
Address system/Compu-ter based
announcement
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
16
|
Parking-cum-circulatory
area, with lights
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
Electronic
Train indicator board.
|
Yes
**
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
Public
phone booth
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
19
|
Signage
(standardised)
|
Yes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
* With cover.
** At station
entrance/concourse, on Foot-over bridges(at landing locations) and on platforms
located appropriately to guide passengers at every stage.
# Station are being electrified.
@ Where train stops at night.
*****
In 1192 the legions of the Afghan warrior Muhammad of Ghori captured the Rajput town, and the Delhi Sultanate was established (1206). The invasion of Delhi by Timur in 1398 put an end to the sultanate; the Lodis, last of the Delhi sultans, gave way to Babur, who, after the battle of Panipat in 1526, founded the Mughal Empire. The early Mughal emperors favoured Agra as their capital, and Delhi became their permanent seat only after Shah Jahan built (1638) the walls of Old Delhi. 
Delhi has not always been the capital of India but it has played an important role in Indian history. The settlement of Indraprastha, which featured in the epic Mahabharata over 3000 years ago, was located approximately on the site of present -day Delhi.
Delhi is the capital of India and its third largest city. The city actually consists of tow parts. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries. In Old Delhi you will find many mosques, monuments and forts relating to India's Muslim history.
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