Budget hotels in Coimbatore Railway Station
Major stations in the southern region will soon have more upmarket food courts, budget hotels and other amenities.Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu on Sunday made this announcement this after inaugurating a food court at the Chennai Central railway station.Tender process
Mr. Velu said tenders would be finalised soon for setting up budget hotels at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Coimbatore, Mangalore and Puducherry stations. "Passengers, particularly tourists, will not have to go in search of accommodation as soon as they get off the train," he said.
The Railways was also thinking of setting up similar hotels at stations in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tuticorin, Thiruvananthapuram, Guruvayur, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode.
IRCTC officials present at the function said tenders had been finalised for establishing budget hotels at Udhagamandalam, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari and Madurai.
Vending machines
The Railways would also set up automatic tea and coffee vending machines, water vending machines and milk booths at various stations.It would upgrade base kitchens at various stations to slowly phase out pantry cars. The IRCTC would go for a public-private partnership for upgrading or setting up of kitchens at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Jolarpettai, Arakkonam, Erode, Madurai, Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Katpadi and Tiruchi stations.
Food would be produced on a large-scale in these kitchens.Apart from catering to passengers, the kitchens would have restaurants.
Enquiry service
The Railways would also set up an integrated call centre enquiry at the Moore Market complex.
Users would be able to collect details about the PNR status and train arrival/departure information on service number 139, Mr. Velu said.
