In a significant step towards enhancing passenger comfort, hygiene and service quality, Shri Lalit Bohra, Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair Division of East Coast Railway has launched an innovative tea and coffee vending initiative on trains. This new system (gadget), first of its kind, aims to provide passengers with tastier, hotter and more hygienic beverages while ensuring ease of operation for vendors.
Traditionally, tea and coffee were carried in open buckets or cans held by hand, which was often unappealing and raised hygiene concerns. Under the new initiative, vendors are equipped with a specially designed wearable gadget featuring an insulated thermos container. Tea and coffee packets are neatly stored in one pocket, while disposable cups are kept in another, leaving both hands of the vendor free for smooth movement and safe service.
The gadget also includes a dedicated pocket for the safe disposal of used sachets and waste generated during vending, making the process cleaner and more environment-friendly. To further enhance passenger convenience, a QR code has been integrated into the gadget, enabling digital payments and ensuring a completely hassle-free experience.
The new system not only looks appealing but is also highly hygienic, as the equipment cannot be placed on the floor, seats or other unhygienic surfaces, which was common in earlier practices. The insulated container helps in maintaining higher temperature for longer duration, thereby preserving the taste and quality of tea, coffee, soup, milk and noodles being served.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Lalit Bohra, Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair Division, stated that this initiative is being introduced as a pilot project on the AP Express on the auspicious occasion of Bhogi-Sankranthi, when the entire state of Andhra Pradesh is in a festive mood. He added that passenger feedback will be closely monitored and, based on responses, further improvements will be made before extending the system to more trains. DRM commended the commercial department and IRCTC under the guidance of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Shri K Pavan Kumar for conceptualizing such innovative initiative.
Shri Lalit Bohra emphasized that this initiative will positively impact passengers’ perception by offering them tastier and more hygienic refreshments. The ergonomic design of the gadget also reduces the physical load on vendors and enables them to move easily from one coach to another.
Under the pilot project, each insulated can has a capacity of 5 litres and can serve approximately 35 passengers at a time. Once refilled, the vendor can conveniently serve an entire coach in one round. Based on the success and feedback of this onboard vending system, Waltair Division plans to extend the initiative to platform vending as well.
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