PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, March 31: In a major relief to the passengers, the Ranchi Rail Division from Monday has restarted the services of providing bedrolls and blankets to the passengers travelling in the AC coaches.
Train number 18616 Hatia-Howrah became the first train of the Ranchi rail division which departed from Hatia station on March 30 to provide bedrolls and blankets to the passengers.
Divisional Commercial Manager of Ranchi Rail Division, Aditya Kumar Choudhary said that the linen facility will be provided in every train in a phased manner as the procurement is underway.
“Bedrolls and blankets are being procured to provide linen services in the train, in which Hatia-Howrah became the first train of the Ranchi rail division to provide line services to the passengers. The linen services will also start in Hatia-Durg from March 31,” Choudhary said.
On the question of when all trains of Ranchi rail division will start providing linen services, he said that it might take 10 days or less than that to equip all the trains with linen facilities as procurement is underway.
The Indian Railways had stopped providing linen services inside trains from May 2020 due to Covid-19 as precautionary measures. The linen includes pillows, blankets, sheets and towels in a sealed cover.
Passengers were advised to bring their own blankets on long journeys. It had instructed that the minimum temperature in train coaches be set at 24-25 degrees Celsius.
While free bedroll was discontinued, Railways was offering disposable bedroll kits as per need basis for those willing to buy while travelling in the AC coaches of the passenger trains.
