GUWAHATI: 32 rakes of N.F. Railway mainly comprising mail express trains have been selected to be upgraded under Project Utkrisht. Under the programme 621 coaches will be provided with upgraded facilities for better passenger comfort during train journey as all the basic amenities will undergo a sea change.
Indian Railways has decided to upgrade passenger train rakes presently running by adding more passenger friendly items under a project named “Utkrist”. In the first phase 140 rakes will be upgraded throughout Indian Railways. This upgrade includes giving a noticeable facelift of both interior and exterior of the entire train rake, the Railways informed on Tuesday.
In N.F. Railway the trains selected for upgradation in the first phase includes long distance train like Dibrugarh – Kanya Kumari Express, Dibrugarh – Kolkata Express, Dibrugarh – Amritsar Express, Dibrugarh – Howrah Kamrup Express, Guwahati – Bangalore Express, Silchar –Trivandrum Express, Kamakhya – Puri Express etc. The project also includes short distance trains like Guwahati -Dimapur Express, Guwahati – Naharlagun Express, Silchar – Guwahati Express, Katihar – Siliguri Express, Alipurduar – Kamakhya Express, Silguri – Alipurduar Express etc. apart from passenger trains like Guwhati – New Bongaigaon passenger.
Under Project Utkrisht, Indian Railways is addressing complaint of passengers like – stinking toilets. All coaches of the revamped rakes will be fitted with ‘Swachh Rail Toilet’, which not only reduces water consumption while flushing, but also ensures that the stench is minimal. The new toilets have various advantages like – no choking, quick discharge to bio toilet tank, complete sealing of odour etc. Under Project Utkrisht, all AC coaches will be provided with the new features like LED panel lighting, new types of bottle holders, braille signage, night glow stickers, new types of fire extinguishers, LED panel photo frame in first AC coaches, big size mirrors, anti-graffiti vinyl wrapping in the gangway area, toilets with exhaust fans, health faucets, auto janitors, Odonil containers, large size mirror etc. All coaches will be fitted with energy-efficient LED lights – in the main interior, doorway, gangway and inside toilets. The upgradation of such facilities will slightly differ in sleeper class coaches and unreserved coaches. Even the pantry car will be upgraded with stainless steel panelling, stainless steel chequered plate on the floor and new stainless steel utensils and equipment for better hygiene.
The target for upgrading the rakes is by March 2019 after which more such rakes will be taken up in the next phase under this project.