Golf carts to ferry senior citizens at CST

Indian Railways is extending a helping hand to senior citizens and physically challenged passengers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. From the first week of December, it will introduce golf carts at the terminus, on the long-distance side, to ferry incoming and outgoing passengers — provided they are senior citizens or disabled — to and from the taxi/car stand and the platform.

The service will be offered free of cost. The announcement was made by Derek O’Brien, chairman of the passenger service committee, a high-power committee of the railway ministry. O’Brien said the effort was to also provide a pollution-free ferry service.
He said “quality tasty food”, under the brand name of Jan Aahar, would be provided to railway passengers at an affordable price at Mumbai Central by March 31, 2010. Tea would be available at Rs4; Coffee at Rs5; vegetable cutlet (per piece) at Rs3; Dosa at Rs10 and Masala Dosa at Rs15 and so on.

O’Brien took stock of the Mumbai’s suburban rail system too, travelling across the network on both second and first class compartments. He said he got a good first-hand experience of a Mumbaikar’s travail. He said the committee will visit Mumbai again between March 10 and March 30 for a review.

After a 90-day tour across the nation from July-end, the committee found that 340 pantry cars on passenger trains were in unhygienic condition.