South Central Railway’s Guntur Division has added a new passenger-friendly facility at Guntur Railway Station by setting up a modern Sleeping Pods Facility, aimed at offering short-stay accommodation while boosting non-fare revenue.
The facility, developed as part of the Railways’ Non-Fare Revenue (NFR) initiatives, is located at Platform No. 1, Gate No. 3, and is designed to cater to transit passengers, families and women travellers seeking safe and affordable rest options during journeys. Similar sleeping pod facilities are currently operational at Visakhapatnam and Charlapalli railway stations.
Modern short-stay option for passengers
The sleeping pods facility at Guntur station has a total capacity of 64 beds, including 52 single beds and 12 double beds. Of these, specific beds have been earmarked for families and women travellers, comprising 10 double beds and 12 single beds.
The facility has been equipped with a range of passenger-oriented amenities such as free Wi-Fi, hot water supply, a snacks bar, travel desk, locker facility for secure storage, clean toilet facilities, and spacious, hygienic sleeping areas. The focus has been on ensuring comfort, safety and convenience for passengers waiting for connecting trains, according to South Central Railway.
Affordable tariffs and push for non-fare revenue
Tariffs for the sleeping pods have been fixed at affordable rates. Single beds are priced at Rs 150 for up to three hours and Rs 300 for stays between three and 24 hours. Double beds are available at Rs 250 for up to three hours and Rs 500 for three to 24 hours. Rooms have been priced at Rs 300 for short stays of up to three hours and Rs 1,000 for stays extending up to 24 hours, according to South Central Railway.
Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, General Manager, South Central Railway, Ms. Sudeshna Sen, Divisional Railway Manager, Guntur Division, and her team for taking up what he described as a passenger-friendly initiative aimed at providing comfortable stays during travel. He also complimented the division for adopting a proactive approach towards generating non-fare revenue.