Rail Budget 2016 expectations: Focus of Indian Railways must be on services, amenities, says survey

1/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: The forthcoming Rail Budget 2016, to be presented by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on February 25, must focus more on passenger services and amenities, including safety and punctuality by Indian Railways, said an online survey by a social media platform. (Express photo)

2/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: On ticketing, citizens want 50 percent refund on Tatkal ticket cancellation six hours before departure, a quota for online Tatkal bookings and lower or middle berth for senior citizens and women with kids. "Status of waitlisted tickets should be updated on a daily basis by Indian Railways and advance reservation should be reduced to 60 days from 120," the survey added. (PTI photo)

3/9

Railway Budget 2016: Trains are not running on time, Prasad said adding that the budget should have come out with alternate options to generate income. (Reuters)

4/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: "Citizens want quality and hygiene of food served in Indian Railways trains improved, more phone-charging points in coaches, insect and pest-free trains, more dustbins and effective maintenance of toilet accessories," said the survey by LocalCircles in which about 150,000 citizens across the country participated online and information was invited from verified respondents. (Reuters)

5/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: Among those demands were that helpline numbers must be displayed in all Indian Railways coaches and on platforms, emergency medical assistance should be provided on all stations and guards, travelling ticket examiner (TTE) and attendants be trained and equipped with first aid kits. (Reuters)

6/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: Users also want the Indian Railways authorities to alert passengers through customised SMS on changes, if any, in train departure, arrival and its cancellation. "Citizens want the rail budget to ensure more drinking water taps at stations, more elevators and escalators for families, including elderly, children and physically challenged and functional toilets," said the survey. (AP)

7/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: Clean bed rolls in air-conditioned coaches and sale of bedrolls for sleeper and general class should be made available by Indian Railways, were some other items on the wishlist of the respondents. "Similarly, the budget should focus on providing more chairs on platforms, a separate counter for ticket cancellation, a complaint redressal department and a provision for online parcel bookings," the survey noted. (Express photo)

8/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: In terms of amenities, the survey found that passengers wanted free WiFi from Indian Railways on many stations, wheelchairs on stations for the challenged, ramps, especially in the suburban services, to make platforms disabled-friendly. To avoid overcrowding, passengers wanted to be allowed to enter platforms a hour before the train departure.(AP)

9/9

Rail Budget 2016 expectations: Another demand wanted online booking of retiring rooms be easier, more vigilance by Railway Protection Force and GRP personnel on every Indian Railways platform, ban on hawkers and vendors approaching a train window to sell goods and loud warning bells or alarms to alert passengers that the train is ready for departure.