In an effort to tackle two critical issues—passenger grievances and overcharging of Food items—the Indian Railways and IRCTC will be launching two apps, ‘Rail Madad’ and ‘Menu on Rails’, respectively today, reports the Economic Times.

Here’s all you need to know about them.

Rail Madad

The Rail ‘Madad’ (Mobile Application for Desired Assistance During travel) app, allows passengers to lodge complaints through mobile applications or the web, and also allows them to check feedback on the status of their complaint, in real time. Here is how this works.

1. The app uses minimum inputs to register a complaint and issues a unique ID, relaying the complaining online to relevant officials for immediate action, simultaneously.

2. After the necessary action has been taken on the complaint, the passenger is updated via SMS.

3. The app displays relevant helpline numbers, like a security helpline, child helpline, etc., and even allows for direct calling facility, for immediate assistance.

4. Different modes of filing complaints, including online and offline modes, are being integrated into a single platform.

Menu on Rails

This app intends to spread awareness among passengers about the menu options on various trains and stations, along with their rates. IRCTC also wants to ensure that caterers do not overcharge the passengers.

1. This app will display the menu served in Mail/Express trains including Humsafar Trains, Rajdhani Trains, Shatabdi Trains, Duronto Trains, Gatiman Express and the Tejas Express.

2. Food items on the app, are categorised into four categories: beverages, breakfast, meals and a-la-carte.

3. This app will display the prices of beverages (like tea, packaged drinking water, and coffee) as well as the rail meals, the Janata khana, Standard veg (Thali), standard non-veg (thali), standard veg-thali (casserole) and Standard Non-veg (Casserole), for trains as well as railway stations.

4. The a-la-carte category includes 96 food items. These are categorised into breakfast, light meals, combo meals, non-veg, diabetic foods, Jain food, sweets, etc.

5. There are also pre-booked meals, separately displayed, for EC and CC classes in case of Shatabdi trains, and 1A, 2A and 3A classes for Rajdhani and Duronto trains. There are also food items for sleeper classes in Duronto trains and pre-booked food items in the Gatiman and the Tejas Express. The menu is also provided for trains that are running late.

6. The app is designed to create awareness about food items available on trains, along with their prices. It will also help customers who have pre-booked their meal, to know about the quantity of the food in advance.

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Whether it is addressing your complaints, or giving you the detailed prices of food items, so you don’t get overcharged, the Railways is definitely leveraging technology to enhance your train journey experience!

Featured image credit: Forth Eye. 

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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