Dimapur, March 9 (EMN): The New Jalpaiguri - Howrah Shatabdi Express has become the first train of N F Railway to be upgraded under project Swarn of Ministry of Railways.
A press release issued by the NF Railways in Maligaon on March 9 mentioned that to improve the experience of the passengers, the Ministry of Railways decided to upgrade premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains under “Project Swarn”.
Fourteen Rajdhani trains and 15 Shatabdi trains is said to have been selected in the first phase under the project. The 12313 New Delhi – Sealdah Rajdhani Express is said to have become the first Rajdhani Express to be upgraded under “Project Swarn” on November 29 2017 while all the Shatabdi express trains in N F Railway are also said to have covered under first phase of the project.
Under Project Swarna, a detailed programme is said to be undertaken to significantly improve passengers’ experience on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains in the following 10 dimensions:
i) Coach Interiors
ii) Toilets
iii) Onboard Cleanliness
iv) Catering
v) Linen
vi) Punctuality
vii) Staff Behaviour
viii) Security
ix) Onboard entertainment
x) Real time Feedback
To undertake Project Swarn” programme, the ministry as mentioned in the release is said to have formed nine teams of two officers each from railway board to monitor the progress of work under each dimension of Project Swarna.
The Shatabdi Express train (12041/12042) running between New Jalpaiguri and Howrah is said to have already been upgraded under Project Swarna with improved features. 12085/12086 Guwahati – Dibrugarh Shatabdi Express and 12087 / 12088 Guwahati – Naharlagun Shatabdi Express trains is siad to be modified with upgraded features shortly.
The expenditure involved of the upgrade is said to be about INR 2 lakh per coach.
