Rail Budget 2014: Cleanliness and security, the prime focus of the proposal

Mumbai: Proposing the Rail Budget 2014-15, Sadananda Gowda, the Minister of Railways said, the main focus would be on sanitation and cleanliness, and food and catering. Further, Gowda added that woman's safety and security would be a major agenda. To ensure safety, 3,000 women RPF constables will be appointed and extra 7,000 RPF men.

Gowda also requested for Rs 40,000 crore to be sanctioned for track renewal, and construction of road-over and road-under bridges to avoid accidents and mishaps. 64 EMUs in Mumbai will also be installed to ease traffic. He proposed to allot Rs 1,780 crore to eliminate unmanned level crossings. Gowda further focused on hygiene, amenities and security of women. Budget allocation for cleanliness will increase by 40 per cent over last year.

Two major areas in focus of hygiene were quality of the food served on trains and platforms and toilets to be cleaned, with introduction for bio-toilets.

Quality food on board:

The Railway minister proposed to offer better house keeping facilities to its passengers. This will include ‘Ready to eat meals’ to ensure food quality while travelling. IVRS mechanism will be launched shortly in order to get feedbacks on food served and further double-check on food quality.

Several RO drinking water units will be set up at stations and in trains. Food courts will available at all major stations. Passengers will also be able to order food via SMS soon.

Cleanliness and hygiene:

‘Cleaning of 50 stations to be outsourced’, said Sadananda Gowda. CCTVs will also be used to monitor cleanliness of the stations on a regular basis. Introduction of Bio-toilets will also be in the pipeline which will help the environment as well as help maintain cleanliness ad hygiene.