New Delhi:
A musical journey awaits passengers of trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi as the Railways has decided to play classical sound tracks in coaches.
Instrumental music played by maestros like Ustad Bismillah Khan, TN Rajaratnam Pillai and Pandit Pannalal Ghosh will keep passengers entertained in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains which have a public announcement system in place.
Railways have sourced the music from the All India Radio (AIR) library.
"We have sourced certain selected instrumental and Carnatic music from the All India Radio library. The AIR has permitted us to play the music in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains," said a senior Railway Ministry official.
Besides shehnai tracks by Ustad Bismillah Khan and sarod of Ustad Alluddin Khan, the offering includes rare raags on violin by Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Nagaswaram of TN Rajaratnam Pillai and flute by TR Mahalingam and Pandit Pannalal Ghosh among others.
Other artists whose music will entertain train passengers include tabla by Ustad Ahmed Jaan Thirakwa, Dhrupad by Dagar brothers, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee on sitar, Radhika Mohan Maitra and Sharan Rani on sarod.
The ministry has given instruction to zonal railways that while playing the music, the region through which the train passes should be kept in mind.
Railways are also taking a number of initiatives for on-board entertainment of passengers. "We are in the process of providing live TV facility in Shatabdis originating from New Delhi," said the official.