Ranchi, Jan. 30: Get set for the goodies! Passengers travelling by trains can now look forward to new AC chair cars, ticket reservation centres at post offices, food plazas at railway stations and prepaid taxi stands.

Several plans were drawn up at a Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) meeting today.

Ranchi-Lohardaga trains would be equipped with AC chair cars while the Rajdhani Express would get two more AC 3-tier coaches. A.K. Dutta, the divisional railway manager at Ranchi railway division, said the decision was based on government and private sector employees feedback seeking AC chair cars on the Ranchi-Lohardaga trains for long. At present, four trains run between Ranchi and Lohardaga but all the coaches are of “general category”.

Railway authorities also started a public reservation centre at the post office in Rajrappa, about 90km from the state capital yesterday. Though the software for buying tickets and making reservations has been provided by the railways, the centre would be run by India Post. The authorities plan to open two more reservation centres in Khunti and Ramgarh. Soon important post offices would be equipped with the facility.

One can also expect to grab a quick meal at food plazas, which are set to open in Namkum, Tatisilwai and Ramgarh in the next few months.

DRUCC members also suggested that platform tickets be sold at the platform gate itself instead of railway ticket counters. “Then one can easily buy tickets and we can also maximise sales,” said Ashok Nagpal, secretary of Chhotanagpur Passenger Association (Ranchi).

Demands to extend the Ganga-Sutlej Express up to Ranchi and to increase the frequency of the Garib Rath Express were also made.

Authorities have also agreed to clear land at the Hatia and Ranchi railway stations for a pre-paid taxi stand. Dutta said it would be the administration’s responsibility to give shape to the project.

WHAT’S NEW

• AC chair cars for Ranchi- Lohardaga trains
• Two additional AC 3-tier coaches for Rajdhani Express
• Public reservation centre at post offices in Rajrappa, Khunti & Ramgarh
• Food plazas to come up in Namkum, Tatisilwai and Ramgarh
• Platform tickets to be sold at the platform gate
• Proposal for pre-paid taxi stands in Ranchi & Hatia