Nursing moms making train journeys need not feel awkward anymore.

At A-1 category Tatanagar station, two separate areas in upper class and second class waiting halls on platform 1 have been identified to construct separate cubicles in one week so that lactating mothers can breastfeed infants.

Tatanagar station will become the first station under the Chakradharpur railway division of South Eastern Railway (SER) to have such facility.

Confirming this development, senior divisional commercial manager of Chakradharpur railway division Satyam Prakash said it was an addition to passenger amenities based on recent Railway Board guidelines for A1 and A category stations.

"The facility will start in another one week. In each of the cubicles, two mothers would easily be able to breastfeed in privacy," Prakash, also the railway spokesperson, said.

Lauding the new move of the railways, woman passenger Neelam Singh said it would be a boon for young mothers.

"When an infant cries out in hunger in the station, a mother finds herself in a very embarrassing situation. On one hand, you can't ignore your crying infant and on the other having gaping strangers around makes breastfeeding uncomfortable. This new move will give privacy to the mother and child, which will be a boon for both. If the mother is comfortable, the baby will feed well and sleep off in a relaxed manner," she said.

"From the health point of view too, we all know breastfeeding is best for the child, so this move helps a larger cause," she said, hoping the cubicles would be clean and secure.

A frequent passenger from Tatanagar, Vivek Agarwal also agreed it was a great move for families on the move.

"Often, passengers are required to wait for long hours at the station to catch connecting or delayed trains. In these cases, the cubicles will prove beneficial for travelling new mothers and babies," he said.

A Chhotanagpur Passenger Association functionary also thanked the Railway Board for the passenger friendly step.

After Tatanagar, the facility for lactating mothers would be introduced at Rourkela and Jharsuguda, both A-category stations, Prakash said.

Last month, Tatanagar station set up a changing room facility in the form of a kiosk at the upper class waiting hall, also for the convenience of women passengers.