The Hindu Business Line : Laloo attempts to make travel more comfortable

NOT only has the new Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, spared all classes of passenger any fare hike, he is also endeavouring to ensure that travelling by a train becomes a bit less harrowing than at present.

So, the next time you reach your local station, there could actually be chlorinated drinking water and clean toilets for starters. And you may not have to stand in an interminable line to buy a ticket since Mr Yadav says the number of ticket windows will be made `adequate'. Going from one platform to another may also become somewhat less of a struggle since foot over bridges and subways will be widened.

And at last, there is a ray of hope for the physically challenged. Such passengers may soon be able to park at special parking spaces, drive a wheelchair over ramps to reach their platform instead of having to struggle with stairs meant for the able-bodied, get to use low-level drinking water taps and toilets and get directions at some `May I Help You' booths across the `A' class stations to begin with.

Again, in a rather considerate move, the Railway Minister has decided to extend the length of platforms so that an entire full-length train can be accommodated on one platform. This will mean seat searching may become easier.

If you are travelling in the sleeper coaches, there will be amenities such as getting a snack table, tumbler holder and even a mirror in your own bay!

Taking special note of problems faced by women passengers, the Minister has ensured that they will increasingly see more lady ticketing squads and less of unauthorised vendors, specially in compartments meant exclusively for women.

In case you are a companion to a deaf and dumb passenger, you can travel at 50 per cent concession and if you are a haemophilia patient, up to 75 per cent concession can be availed.

Coupled with increased availability of milk and milk products at railway stations in Laloo's favourite kullhars, your next train journey may just turn out to be memorable!