The next time you alight at Patna Junction, forget the trouble of hailing a porter, hunting for a wheelchair, booking a cab and reaching your destination safely.

Leave all the headache to the friendly concierge waiting to receive you at the door of your train coach to help you out in every possible way.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will start concierge services at Patna Junction in around three months after its launch at New Delhi railway station as a pilot project on January 8.

Under the service, a person would be deputed at the station to receive the passenger who has availed of the facility, take care of the luggage, book a cab and drop the passenger at his/her desired destination.

The service aims to protect passengers from touts who bully them at railway stations.

At present, passengers are fully dependent on reluctant strangers for directions who often misguide them.

The initiative has been successful at New Delhi railway station and the scenario at Patna Junction, too, could change.

Travellers can book the service 36 hours in advance and it can be booked only on the IRCTC website.

A senior IRCTC official said: 'Concierge services have been launched at New Delhi railway station in the north zone. We have been ordered to start the same at important stations in the other zones, including Patna Junction in the east zone.'

Concierge services would help train passengers hire taxis, porters, book restaurants and hotels, recommend nightlife hot spots, book transportation, tickets to special events and assist with tours and travel arrangements.

However, for each of these services, passengers have to pay a fee.

Sharing more details, the official said: 'It would take at least three months to start this service at Patna. The rates of the service at Patna Junction are yet to be finalised. The service also includes wheel chairs and stretchers. A porter along with an escort can also be arranged for on demand.'

Concierge services are an addition to IRCTC's ambitious project of constructing an executive lounge outside Patna Junction, where passengers would be offered facilities on a par with airport lounges.

The lounge would have a television, music system, sofa-cum-bed, phone and Wi-Fi-enabled computer/laptop.

Once completed, passengers in transit could freshen up, sip tea, coffee and cold drinks and even grab a quick bite.

'The best part of the concierge services is that it would provide protection to passengers who are new to the city. We have heard about many cases in which the driver harasses the passengers, especially at night. I must tell you that the person to be deputed would be qualified and familiar with the city's neighbourhoods,' said the official.