Tatanagar: SER starts providing bedroll, blankets in AC trains

Jamshedpur, March 11: Fulfilling the demands of passengers, South Eastern Railway has started providing bedrolls and blankets from Friday in AC coaches of all long-distance trains passing through Tatanagar and other railway stations. The linen includes pillows, blankets, sheets and towels in a sealed cover. The Railways had stopped providing the services inside trains due to COVID-19.

In an order issued to general managers of all railway zones the Railway Board had said the supply of bedrolls, blankets, linen and curtains would resume with immediate effect.

A railway official in Garden Reach, headquarters of SE Railway confirmed that the services of bedrolls and linen have been restored in as many as 30 long-distance trains passing through various railway divisions in Jharkhand.

Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also welcomed the move. Vijay Anand Moonka, president of the chamber said that it was a long pending demand and railway has taken the right step. “Passengers will benefit from resumption of bedrolls, blankets and other items in AC coaches of trains as a welcome relief,” he noted.

In an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Railways had announced in May 2020 that it would not provide blankets and curtains in air-conditioned coaches of all trains. Passengers were advised to bring their own blankets on long journeys.

Apart from this, Railways have made the process related to group ticket booking easy, making it very easy to book the entire train or an entire coach. Passengers can make the booking from their nearest railway station only. According to reports, to book a train on the occasion of marriage, you have to go to the IRCTC website. It is to be noted that 30 per cent extra money is to be paid on every ticket.

The one booking the train will have to deposit a fixed amount, which will be returned on completion of your journey. Service tax, GST and other taxes will not be included in this amount.

The Tatanagar railway station is the only A1-category railway station under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway ( SER). The footfall at the station is gradually on the rise because of an increasing number of special trains and also because of the fact that Tatanagar falls on the Howrah-Mumbai main line.