IRCTC proposes lounge in railway stations and launches new trains for holy places!!

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has decided to bring about an executive lounge at major stations nationwide to assist the passengers, especially senior citizens and adult female, in boarding trains in a hassle-free fashion and  to establish special trains for holy place like Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and Shirdi Dham. These trains will run during the summertime.

According to a Railway Board official, under the plan, the lounge will serve the passengers justly from receiving them at stations and arranging porters for luggage carriage. The trained staff of the lounge, who will be known as ‘rail volunteers’, will be available to serve passengers on payment basis round-the-clock at all crowded stations where such lounge would be set up in future, he said. The concept of an executive lounge is very much on the pattern of airport lounge. In addition to proper seats, food and beverage will be made available at the lounge. The greatest advantage of the lounge will be facility of Wi-Fi for the passengers in any emergency. It will also be provided with business centre facilities, including fax, laptop, and locker for luggage and wash room. Wheel chairs will be available at each lounge to cater to the needs of elderly people, physically challenged persons and women, he said.

The residents of Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow and other cities of the state would be able to take advantage of the pilgrimage tours named as Bharat Darshan, the special trains will run from third week of May to the mid of June, originating from Varanasi. Shirdi Sai Dham Bharat Darshan Yatra would touch cities like Sultanpur, Lucknow, Kanpur in one trip and pass through places like Gorakhpur, Gonda, Lucknow and Kanpur to reach Shirdi in the second trip. A person willing to travel to Vaishno Devi shrine is required to pay an amount of Rs 2,565 for getting the seat confirmed in the special train. For travelling up to Shirdi Dham, a passenger is required to pay Rs 2,052. The passengers can book tickets either by visiting IRCTC office situated at platform number one of Kanpur Central railway station or by logging on to www.railtourismindia.com. For Shirdi Sai Dham Bharat Darshan Yatra, the IRCTC has been making tickets available to the passengers in the Pushpak Express.