In a first, Thiruvananthapuram Central station has inaugurated an exclusive all-women facilitation centre starting from today. Women rail commuters in the Trivandrum Division (from Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari to Shornur) will be assisted on security needs and provided information at the facilitation centre by women railway officers, including the Railway Protection Force, TOI reports.
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While this is planned across major stations, the first is a 24-hour booth, near the new booking office at Central station in Thiruvananthapuram. There also will be a room for mothers who are nursing. Like Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations have initiated this module and soon under Southern Railways, four more such centres at Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Kozhikode will be launched, according to news reports.
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Do note the new women's helpline, 9567869385 – which is meant to provide round-the-clock assistance. Additionally, in case of emergency, the Railways’ toll free helpline numbers--138 and 182 -- are also operational for travel-related assistance.
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After officials confirm the genuine need of passengers, their complaints about allotted berths, behaviour of co-passengers or medical needs, the necessary action will be taken depending on the situation.
It's a welcome move -- here's waiting to see how it progresses, and wishing the Railways luck with implementation.
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