Ahead of Modi govt's first anniversary, Railway Board members cancel foreign trips

New Delhi: Three Railway Board members including its chairman who were scheduled to embark upon a nine-day foreign tour today have cancelled their trip to make themselves available for the celebrations of the Narendra Modi government's first year in office.[caption id="attachment_2239304" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image. AFP[/caption]Railways is launching an ambitious passenger and customer facilitation drive, a fortnight-long programme from 26 May to mark the occasion.As per the earlier tour schedule, Railway Board chairman AK Mittal, Financial Commissioner Rajalakshmi Ravikumar and Member (Electrical) Navin Tandon were to leave the country today to visit China and Japan. Railways is acquiring coaches for Kolkata Metro from these two countries.However, Railway Board Member (Staff) Pradeep Kumar has already left for China yesterday on a week-long trip.Railways has finalised the fortnight-long programme in a big way across the country where all additional members, advisers and executive directors of the Railway Board have been assigned a station each. Officers will identify and launch 100 new projects, check tickets and will travel in trains.All general managers of zonal railways and divisional railway managers have been asked to actively participate in the drive to create awareness about Railways' various achievements during the year.Officers visiting stations are also to submit inspection report with their remarks on the progress made by the Railways.The fortnight will also witness the launch of the new Indian Railways logo as a branding exercise. Roadshows, health camps, yoga classes are also to be organised during this period. PTI