New Delhi: Indian Railways will launch a pilot project of Yatri Seva Anubandh (YSA) initiative on six pairs of Vande Bharat trains plying over Southern Railways as a proof of concept. As per the tender details finalized by the Railways, the Service Provider will have exclusive right to put advertisements inside the coach as designated places. The service provider will also have exclusive right to offer pick-up and drop facility at originating/destination stations of the trains for those passengers who opt for the service.

YSA initiative aims to improve the quality of on-board passenger service. It aims to offer greater choice in food and beverages and provide additional value-added services like concierge service, on board infotainment and access to travel essentials and accessories. YSA also aims to reduce expenditure currently being incurred by JR on housekeeping through service integration (one Service Provider per train) and provide access to the Service Provider (SP) to revenue verticals such as advertising (inside trains) and permission to provide ancillary services.

Service Provider who wins bid will provide housekeeping in all coaches free of charge to passengers, will serve prepaid meals as per the menu and tariff notified by IR from time to time, will sell a la carte food and beverages to passengers at pre-published rates, will provide passengers with value-added services like concierge, infotainment, and sale of travelling essentials and other items on payment basis.

The service provider will also handle onboard passenger grievances, resolve minor faults like a jammed door, a latchlloose nut/leaking tap, etc., with the aid of a simple tool kit and maintain the standard of onboard services as stipulated by Ministry of Railways from time to time.

The Service Provider would also exclusively provide e-catering based delivery of food for passengers travelling onboard YSA VB TRAINS. The SP shall ensure that the rates of F&B items provided via e-catering are reasonable and comparable to market rates. It shall also be exclusively permitted to advertise inside coaches as per regulations and extant guidelines. General and specific guidelines of advertising shall have to be abided.

Indian Railways will develop at Yatri Seva App for the pilot YSA initiative. This application will enable passengers travelling on YSA Vande Bharat trains to avail YSA services including booking, cancellation and feedback.

The pilot project will be implemented in Vande Bharat trains connecting Chennai to Mysuru, Kasargod to Trivandrum, Chennai to Coimbatore, Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli and Chennai to Vijayawada.

The advertisements will be put by Service Provide at Lavatory Panel, IC door partition, End wall panels, Pantry and lavatory module door, Headrest cover of seat and nominated space on snack table.