Piyush Goyal launches web portal Rail Sahyog
For private firms to donate corporate social responsibility funds
NEW DELHI: In a move that may facelift the basic amenities for passengers at railway stations the Ministry of Railways has decided to rope in private players for developing and maintenance of basic amenities at railways stations.
In this regard, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched a web portal ‘Rail Sahyog’, a platform for the corporates and PSUS to contribute to the creation of amenities at railway stations through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
“The companies desirous of contributing can register their requests on the portal which will be processed by railway officials. Based on the principle of first come first serve, the requests would be shortlisted and selected ones will be intimated to deposit the funds with railways agencies like RITES, RAILTEL and so on and the nominated agency will get the work executed thereafter,” Goyal said while launching the portal.
The activities identified to be funded through CSR include the construction of toilets in circulating areas of all stations with the provision of low-cost sanitary pad vending machine. The incinerator would be added in female toilets and a condom vending machine in male toilets.
Providing free wifi at stations by setting up hotspots is another activity to be funded through CSR. The approximate cost of the revamp per station is Rs 10.30- 12.30 lakh.
Provision of benches at station platforms as a facility for senior citizens and disabled has also been added to the list, the approximate cost for each set varies from Rs 17,500 to Rs 47,500.
The installation of bottle crushing machines at 2,175 major stations for ensuring environmental sustainability is another activity. The empty plastic bottles discarded by the railway passengers would be crushed in these machines to manage plastic pollution. The cost for this would be around Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh.
Lastly, dustbins would be installed at all stations using CSR funds, as a part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which would help prevent littering in the station premises. Separate dustbins for both wet and dry garbage will be provided in the circulating area of stations and platforms, whose approximate cost would be Rs 4,500.
“The proposals submitted by the firms, societies, individuals would be at the portal for at least five days and if similar proposal would be submitted by other players within that period, the selection of plan would be done by officials on the recommendation of expert committee,” the minister said, adding that based on the response received, further additional items would be considered for funding through CSR.
To encourage participation of private companies and public sector undertakings in identified works/activities to be done under CSR in the railways, a policy framework had been put in place by the national transporter in 2016.