PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 11: South Eastern Railway has started providing bedroll and blankets from today in AC coaches of all long-distance trains passing through Tatanagar and other railway stations under its jurisdiction.
Notably, in an order issued to general managers of all railway zones on Thursday, the Railway Board said the supply of bedrolls, blankets, linen and curtains would resume with immediate effect.
Even though free bedroll and linen had been discontinued due to the pandemic, the Indian Railways had been providing a bedroll kit to passengers who would be interested in buying them. The service was made on a need basis.
While the meals and linen service have been restored, concessions for passengers remain suspended.
A railway spokesperson in Garden Reach, headquarters of SE Railway confirmed this the services of bedrolls and linen have been restored in as many as 30 long-distance trains passing through various railway divisions in Jharkhand.
“Resumption of bedrolls, blankets and other items in AC coaches of trains is a welcome relief. Passengers travelling in AC coaches would be benefitted, ” said Vijay Anand Moonka, president of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and
Railways, one of the major transporter of the country has resumed most of its services, which were suspended due to the Covid-19 situation, as positive cases started to decline significantly.