NFR introduces enhanced on-board services in 5 trains

Guwahati, October 11 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has introduced enhanced on-board housekeeping services in five trains to improve cleanliness, sanitation and passenger comfort, becoming the second zonal railway in the country to implement the initiative.The services were formally launched at Guwahati Railway Station on October 10 in the presence of the Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer of NFR and other senior railway officials.According to an NFR press release, the technology-enabled services are being implemented by SMC Integrated Facility Management Solutions Limited, with dedicated teams deployed on the identified trains to maintain cleanliness and address passenger complaints during journeys.The services cover the Kamakhya-SMVT Bengaluru Express (12552/12551), the Guwahati-Kolkata Garib Rath Express (12518/12517), the Dibrugarh-Mumbai LTT Express (15946/15945), the New Jalpaiguri-Patna Vande Bharat Express (22233/22234) and the New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati Vande Bharat Express (22227/22228).The services commenced on October 10 on the Guwahati-Kolkata Garib Rath and both Vande Bharat services, and on October 11 on the Dibrugarh-Mumbai LTT Express. The Kamakhya-SMVT Bengaluru Express is scheduled to be covered from October 14.The enhanced services include regular cleaning of coaches and AC windows, improved washroom hygiene, waste management, and timely distribution and collection of linen. Staff will also provide basic technical assistance, monitor water availability and address passenger complaints within a target of two hours. Unresolved issues will be escalated to the concerned railway authorities.The initiative also incorporates digital monitoring, geo-tagged service verification, staff tracking and a centralised monitoring system. Real-time passenger feedback, star ratings and AI-based cleaning assessments will be used to evaluate service quality.In another initiative, uniforms for the on-board service staff have been made by local weavers with support from the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.