Kochi: Soon commuters can enjoy a host of value-added services like car-washing, puncture service and valet parking among others when they use the parking facility at railway stations in the Thiruvananthapuram division.
The services are being introduced by the Kudumbashree Mission in major stations having premier parking slots like Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. This, after the railway authorities decided to entrust the management of parking lots of all stations in the division to Kudumbashree.
“We will introduce value-added services in the parking lot of Ernakulam South station first followed by other major railway stations. While the customer needs to pay for services such as car-washing and valet parking, facilities like tyre puncture rectification and mobile recharge will be free,” a senior official said.
Kudumbashree will deploy specialized personnel to provide the services while the railway’s role will be limited to providing space at station premises.
Under valet parking, the customers’ vehicles will be parked for them by a staff member, relieving them of the task of finding a parking space on their own. Also these vehicles will be parked at slots from where owners can easily take them out.
“We are also mulling over introducing a Mobile application which will facilitate deduction of parking rates from the customer’s account and the information about the parking charge and time will be sent to their mobiles. However, this is only at the planning stage. The discussions are progressing,” the official said.
With the pilot project to entrust the contract for the parking facility to Kudumbashree Mission at four major stations proving to be a success, Southern Railways has decided to give the management of all stations in the Thiruvananthapuram division to the Mission.
