New Delhi: Decor of Railway carriages and station premises are set to get an image makeover with the ministry joining hands with National Institute of Design to redesign coaches, toilets and other facilities. The Railways on Friday signed an MoU with the Commerce and Industry Ministry for setting up Railway Design Centre at NID campus in Ahmedabad.
"We have designs for coaches, toilets, platform sheds, pantry cars and likewise. We are now going for better design of all these services to make sure our customers have more satisfaction and for this we have signed a MoU with Commerce and Industry Ministry for setting up the Railway Design Centre at NID campus," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said today after the signing ceremony.
Among other things, NID will also design ladder for upper berths, lighting arrangements at stations and circulating areas to give an aesthetic touch to rail facilities.
"Railways need lot of new coaches. We want to offer better customer service. Right from purchasing the ticket, coming to platform and boarding the train and then deboarding at the destinations, they must have good travel experience," Prabhu said.
Railways will provide Rs 10 cr fund to NID for the job. There will be a committee of four senior railway officials to monitor the project.
"NID, which has become a centre for excellence for its good work, is under Commerce and Industry Ministry. We will ensure that passenger get benefit out of this tie-up," said Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The MoU will be for a period of 10 years, which can be further extended as mutually agreed. Prabhu said signing MoU for improving design of rail amenities is part of the budget announcement. He also said that Railways is signing agreements with other ministries for making a coordinated effort to improve services.
"We had signed tie-up with Road Transport Ministry for construction of ROB/RUB, today we signed MoU with Commerce and Industry Ministry. We will also sign similar pact with Coal Ministry for improving coal linkage," Prabhu said.
