New Delhi: After its high-tech interiors and tasty meals, now the superfast Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express will have smartly-turned out ‘air hostesses’ on board handing out food to passengers.
Indian Railways has hired over 34 ‘airhostesses and flight stewards’ to care for passengers on Vande Bharat, which was inaugurated on February 15.
The air hostesses, attired in white shirt-black trousers with a black sleeveless jacket, a silk scarf around the neck, and with the hair smartly combed back, would wheel in the food trolleys, laden with food and drinks for the passengers.
The Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has done the hiring of air hostesses and flight stewards on Vande Bharat, which was earlier named Train 18, a railway official said, declining to be named.
The move is part of a six-month pilot project to take forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s dream of making the railways more competitive by providing world class service to passengers.
Besides adding to passenger comfort, the railways also hopes the move will help minimise complaints regarding shoddy behaviour of pantry staff.
Just like on an airline flight, the air hostesses and flight stewards would greet passengers with a smile and ‘namastey’ while boarding and thank them during debording.
IRCTC MD M.P. Mall told IANS, “We have hired 34 Air Hostesses and Flight Stewards from the Air Borne Air Hostess Academy in Delhi to provide flight-like hospitality services on board the Vande Bharat Express.”
He said the pilot project is aimed at not only improving the catering service but also “improve communication” with passengers. (IANS)