New Delhi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today launched several services, including liberalised station-to-station special freight rates policy, providing sub quota of 33 per cent for women within reserved categories for the allotment in catering units and launch of the new train timetable here. Besides, he launched the policy of giving preference to local domicile holders for commercial licenses at stations and new system of allocating vacant berths after final charting to wayside stations. These initiatives, as a part of fulfillment of the budget announcements, were launched in presence of Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, Railway Board chairman A K Mittal and other officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prabhu said Railways was striving to achieve full passengers’ satisfaction in all respects and today’s initiatives were part of its endeavors. Introduction of new policy providing sub-quota of 33 per cent to women in catering units was a step towards women empowerment and their increased participation in Railways. He said the organisation would continue to introduce such new reformative steps in the future. Mr Gohain said Railways being the biggest organisation of the country had lots of complex projects to implement throughout the country.
But overcoming the difficulties and complexities, Railways was implementing its budget announcements in a very promised manner which was landmark in itself. The 33 per cent sub quota reservation for women would ensure allotment of minimum eight per cent stalls to women at A1, A, B and C category station and minimum 17 per cent at D, E and F category station. There were approximately 8,000 minor catering units and under this provision, the organisation would ensure that women’s participation does not fall below a specific level.
By giving preference to local domicile holders for commercial licenses at stations, the proliferation would help to build local ownership and rural empowerment along with socio-economic development. The proliferation of weightage to district domicile holders at all category of stations would ensure protection of livelihood of the small vendors. The weightage parameter would range from 20 per cent to the local district domicile holders to 12 per cent to the state domicile holders in techno-commercial scores.
With the transfer of vacant berths for optimal utilization of berths, the PRS system would automatically allot vacant berths available at the originating stations after preparation of second chart to the subsequent stations where waitlisted passengers were available. At present about three lakh births per year go un-utilised while there may be demand at intermediate stations. This system would help in better utilization of available berths at the time of departure of trains from the originating station and also reduce the discretion available with TTEs in allotting the berths. The launch of trains at a glance 2016 -- the new time table effective from the October 1, has also been launched. Incorporated in the new timetable were the 10 Humsafar, three Tejas and three UDAY trains. (UNI)