BENGALURU: The Rani Chennamma Express will have a smarter and prettier appearance in future. The train that runs daily between Bengaluru and Kolhapur is the only one in the Bengaluru Railway Division selected under the Centre’s upgradation scheme of trains.
‘Project Utkrisht’ will thoroughly overhaul coaches in 66 pairs of trains across Railways to enhance the travel experience of passengers. The Hampi Express in Hubballi Division and the Mysuru-Tuticorin Express in the Mysuru Division are other two trains selected in the South Western Railway Division. Among the numerous improvements to be effected in the Rani Channamma Express (Train no. 16589/16890) are toilet seat cover dispensers for AC coaches, posters highlighting the culture and monuments of Karnataka inside compartments and vinyl wrapping of doorways of trains, informed a top official of the Bengaluru Railway Division.
Two rakes (full set of coaches on a train) of the Rani Chennamma Express and four rakes each of Hampi Express and Mysuru-Tuticorin Express are set for improvements. A sum of `60 lakh per rake will be provided under the project, said a communication from the Railway Board.
The ‘Rani Chennamma’ was nominated for the upgradation by officials in Bengaluru. Asked about the rationale behind its selection, another official said, “The train always runs with more than 3,000 passengers. It is a very old train.” “By September, one rake of Rani Channamma will be fully ready while the other one will be ready by December,” he said. The upgradation plan has been divided into five sections: On board cleanliness, Coach interiors, Toilets, Exterior and Pantry.
Toilets in particular will be given much thrust. “While those inside the AC coaches are set to have seat dispensers on the toilets as well as auto janitor system to control bad odour, toilets in regular coaches will have improved flushing valves, LED lights and stainless steel dustbins,” an official said. The existing PVC flooring which results in water puddles in toilets will be replaced with epoxy flooring that will have proper floor level and slope, he added. Cleaning of toilets will be done every two hours.
Another major convenience planned for AC coaches are double partition doors. “Presently, doors open only into one side and the passenger across needs to wait. The doors will have both push and pull facilities in future,” the official said.
Replacement of compressed cushioning material in coaches, new panels to replace faded coach panels and painting roofs of trains with white paint figure among the 42 kinds of improvements to be effected.