Women battalion for security of female train passengers soon: Suresh Prabhu

New Delhi, Dec 8: A special women battalion of the Railway Protection Force will be raised soon for security of female train passengers, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Railway Minister

said during Question Hour that CCTV cameras are also being installed in

to monitor activities of passengers while a special mobile app will be introduced soon by the Railway Ministry to facilitate women passengers to lodge instant complaints of harassment.

Prabhu said plans are afoot to introduce tourist trains on pilgrim circuits like Devi circuit, Jyotirling circuit, Jain circuit, Christian circuit, Muslim/Sufi circuit, Sikh circuit and other circuit announced in the Railway Budget 2014-15.

He said the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation have operated five pilgrim special tourist trains from October 25, 2014 till today and five more trains are planned till January 12, 2015.

"IRCTC plans to continue these trains in 2015-16," he said. The Minister said the government was ready to introduce a special tourist train connecting holy places of Sikh religion if Punjab government comes up with a proposal in this effect.

Prabhu said tourism is one of the biggest job generators and to promote tourism, government would do all the needful that include running tourist special trains.

"For promotion of tourism, we want to join hands with state tourism development corporation," he said.

The Minister said Indian Railways promotes tourism by providing connectivity through trains to tourist destinations across the country.

"Promotion of tourism by linking tourist places with tourist trains is a continuous process based on market demand, operational feasibility and availability of resources," he said.

PTI