BENGALURU: Water vending machines (wvms) that provide water at highly affordable prices and e-bed roll booking service for Sleeper class and general passengers were launched by Divisional Railway Manager of Bangalore Railway Division Sanjiv Agarwal at the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (Bengaluru City) railway station on Monday.
Passengers with a confirmed rail ticket book the e-bedroll facility by logging onto www.irctctourism.com or purchase it directly from the e-hub set up at concourse area of railway station.
The bedrolls are disposable and passengers can take them home. A blanket kit with one blanket costs Rs 110 while a bedroll kit costs Rs 140 and consists of two cotton bedsheets and one pillow.
Ten wvms, each costing Rs 8 lakhs, which are coin operated, were also installed across the platforms of the stations.
"The machines aim at providing clean, drinking water at a subsidised price to rail passengers" said N R Sridharamurthy, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager. One can bring own container and procure the water at these rates: 300 ml (Rs 1); 500 ml (Rs 3); one litre (Rs 5); 2 litres (Rs 8.00) and 5 litres (Rs 20). The cost will be higher if container is also required.