The Ahmedabad Railway Division held a passenger outreach programme across 107 stations on October 22, with travellers seeking more luggage lockers, non-packaged food, reliable train announcements, cleaner platforms and improved waiting facilities. The exercise was led at Ahmedabad railway station by Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash, who said the suggestions would be classified according to urgency and infrastructure requirements.
The programme, titled Rail Jan Samvad, was organised to understand passenger problems and identify improvements in station services. Senior divisional officials interacted directly with passengers at 39 major stations, while station superintendents and station masters collected feedback at the remaining stations. Railway officials also spoke to passengers on trains about problems faced during travel.
At Ahmedabad station, passengers asked the railway administration to expand the luggage locker room so that travellers waiting for trains could store their belongings securely while attending to other work. They also sought meal options beyond packaged food, particularly during afternoon and night hours, to give passengers more choices while waiting at the station.
Passengers further called for a continuously functioning announcement system to provide timely and accurate information about train arrivals, departures and other operational updates. The request relates to a basic but important part of station management, especially for travellers waiting on platforms or navigating a busy station.
Feedback also focused on platforms 3 and 4 at Ahmedabad station. Passengers sought improvements in cleanliness and easier access to drinking water and hand-washing facilities. One passenger requested better sanitation and toilet arrangements, along with a separate waiting room. Travellers waiting for late-night trains in the air-conditioned waiting room said more seating space was needed.
The suggestions cover services that affect passengers differently depending on the length and timing of their journey. A person waiting for a late-night train may need seating and food facilities, while passengers carrying luggage may depend on secure storage. Access to announcements, water, toilets and clean platforms remains relevant to passengers using the station for both short and long journeys.
The outreach also extended beyond station buildings. The DRM spoke with auto-rickshaw drivers outside Ahmedabad station to gather information about parking arrangements and vehicle movement. Their feedback added the station’s entry and exit area to the list of issues considered during the exercise.
Ved Prakash said the suggestions received from passengers would be prioritised according to need. Problems that can be resolved immediately would be taken up on priority, while infrastructure-related requirements would be addressed through phased planning and improvements, according to the report.
The railway division has not specified which requests will be implemented first or provided timelines for individual works. The next stage will involve classifying the feedback and taking up immediate issues and infrastructure-related improvements through separate processes.
