Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu inspecting a model rake with improved interiors, colour scheme, aesthetics and amenity fittings. (PTI Photo)
Enhancing passenger amenities coupled with adequate fire safety measures, railways today unveiled refurbished coaches with aesthetically appealing and improved interior furnishings.
This is a step towards providing better amenities to passenges and we will continue to do so in future also, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in New Delhi after inspecting the new coaches.
Equipped with added features like controlled discharged water tap, new toilet modules, exhaust fan, LED lights, snack tables for side berth passengers, 24 coaches comprising AC-1, AC-2 and Sleeper Classes bogies were showcased in New Delhi.
Though the coaches are 12 to 15 years old, all have been refurbished at the Carriage Rehabilitation Workshop in Bhopal.
There will be a total of 111 coaches which would be refurbished with new features at an estimated cost of Rs 31.5 crore.
It costs about Rs 25 lakh more per AC-1 coach to refurbish it, Railway Board Member Hemant Kumar said.
Asked in which train these 24 coaches will be used, Mr Kumar said the route and train has not been decided yet.