Ahmedabad division held a Rail Jan Samvad programme at 107 railway stations on October 22, allowing passengers to raise concerns about luggage storage, food, train information, cleanliness, drinking water and waiting areas directly with railway officials. At Ahmedabad railway station, Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash spoke with passengers and recorded their suggestions for improving station services.
Passengers at Ahmedabad station sought an expansion of luggage locker facilities so that travellers waiting for trains could store their belongings securely while completing other tasks. They also asked the railway to provide cooked meals in addition to packaged food, particularly during lunch and dinner hours, giving passengers more options while waiting at the station.
Reliable and continuous announcements were another key demand. Passengers said information about train arrivals, departures and other operational updates should be communicated clearly and on time through an announcement system that remains consistently functional.
Concerns were also raised about facilities on platforms 3 and 4 at Ahmedabad station. Passengers requested improvements in cleanliness and better access to drinking water and hand-washing facilities. One passenger called for stronger arrangements for sanitation and toilets, as well as a separate waiting room.
Passengers waiting for late-night trains at the air-conditioned waiting room also asked for more seating capacity. The feedback points to pressures that emerge when passenger facilities are assessed not only during regular daytime operations but also during long waits and late-night travel.
The programme extended beyond the station premises. The DRM spoke with auto-rickshaw drivers outside Ahmedabad station to understand problems involving parking and vehicle movement. These issues affect how passengers reach and leave the station and form part of the wider access system around a major railway hub.
Rail Jan Samvad was organised across all 107 stations in the Ahmedabad division. Senior divisional officials interacted directly with passengers at 39 major stations, while station superintendents and station masters collected feedback at the remaining locations. Railway officials also spoke with passengers on trains about problems faced during travel and the facilities available to them.
Ved Prakash said the suggestions would be classified according to their need and priority. Problems that can be resolved immediately will be taken up on a priority basis, while infrastructure-related requirements will be addressed through phased planning and improvements, according to the report.
The exercise has created a list of service and infrastructure demands, but the railway has not specified a separate timeline or budget for each proposed improvement. The next stage will depend on how the Ahmedabad division categorises the feedback and converts the passenger requests into immediate works or phased infrastructure plans.
