Apart from on-board massage, Indian Railways offers these special facilities
In a bid to enhance passenger comfort, and to raise its own non-fare revenue, Indian Railways keeps coming up with new and innovative facilities and services. The latest addition to them is the recently-introduced, on-board massage facility which will be launched in 39 trains. In wake of this new service, here are other special facilities offered by Indian Railways you should know about.
Firstly, what is Railways' on-board massage service
In order to improve its non-fare revenue, the Ratlam division of the Indian Railways is all set to start head and foot massages in 39 trains originating from the Indore railway station. The service will cost Rs. 100 to 300, depending on the quality of the service chosen. The service is expected to be rolled out in the next 15-20 days.
The proposal will fetch Rs. 20 lakh per year: Railways
"This proposal will fetch Rs. 20 lakh a year whereas the deemed earnings will be Rs. 90 lakh (towards ticket) as it will approximately see 20,000 more passengers in a year," explains a senior Indian Railways official.
The Railwire Wi-Fi service is now available at 1,500 stations
Coming to other services, Indian Railways' 'Station Wi-Fi Project' aims to provide free-of-cost, high speed broadband Internet connectivity to passengers, at major railway stations. The broadband Wi-Fi facility has already been installed at 1,500 stations (as of April, 2019) across the country. According to Indian Railways, it shall be one of the largest public Wi-Fi projects in the world, once completely implemented.
How to connect to Indian Railways' Wi-Fi at stations?
When you are at a Wi-Fi enabled railway station: First, go to your device's Wi-Fi Settings, then select 'Railwire' network. Next, open 'Railwire.co.in' on your browser, enter your phone number, and click on 'Receive SMS.' Now, enter the received 4-digit OTP code. Finally, press 'Done'.
You can book battery-operated cars and cabs from stations
Battery-operated Cars: The Central Railways has started running battery-operated cars, on paid-basis, to-and-fro the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, to facilitate the journey for long-distance passengers, especially senior citizens and differently-abled. Cabs: The IRCTC has tied up with domestic cab aggregator - Ola, to provide last-mile connectivity to its passengers. The cabs can be booked online (through IRCTC app/website), and offline (through counters and kiosks).
One can also book wheelchairs online
The Indian Railways also provides E-wheelchair booking facility for senior citizens, differently-abled, and patients. To book a wheelchair online, log on to the IRCTC portal, click on 'Service at Station', and select 'E-wheelchair' link. Now, enter your PNR, and click on 'Search' button. Next, enter the required details, and click on 'Book' option. Finally, your booking details will flash on the screen.
You can also book E-bedroll online
You can also book a bedroll online, at select Railway stations, through the IRCTC website. To do so, log on to the IRCTC portal, and under the 'Service At Stations' dropdown menu, click on 'E-bedroll' link. Now, enter your PNR number, and click on 'Search' button to check availability. Choose the desired kit type and click on 'book.' Select payment option, and make payment.
Other facilities: Cloak rooms, safety lockers and waiting rooms
The Indian Railways also offers cloak rooms and safety lockers at all major railway stations, to let passengers store their baggage safely. Furthermore, passengers also have the facility to wait at waiting rooms for free, simply by producing journey tickets.
