CR, WR seek corporate help for improving amenities

MUMBAI: The Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) have sought the assistance of corporate houses to improve passenger amenities at their platforms. The Railway board had brought a policy pertaining to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund in 2016.

On Thursday, railways authorities called a meeting of corporate houses to know their willingness to use CSR funds for improving passenger's amenities. The meeting was held at the Mumbai Division of CR. Just two days ago, the CR approved a CSR proposal regarding the beautification of Ambivli railway station to foundation of the real estate company.

A senior CR official, who attended the meeting, said that there were 55 participants from various corporate houses to help the railways to improve passenger amenities. “Most of the houses have shown keenness for providing sanitation facilities at railway stations. The second sector is the environmental sustainable activities, where the representatives have shown the willingness to give CSR funds,” the official added.

Providing battery operated carts, building of baby feeding kiosks, display of digitised information, tree plantation and the beautification of stations are among the other many measures offered by corporates to the railways. Corporate houses will also get their name on the railways station for the work executed, which would build their brand value before the commuters.     

Speaking to the The Asian Age, Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, additional divisional railway manager, CR, said, “The CSR conference was organised to explore the possibility of using the CSR funds for executing projects aimed at environmental sustainability, improvement in sanitation and passenger amenities. The response from the participant companies was encouraging and we are planning further interaction once we received the proposal from the companies.”