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Pune, Jan 16: India’s largest transporter of people and material has been working round the clock to do its bit to keep the Khelo India Youth Games 2019 chugging along smoothly on the tracks.
The Indian Railways was probably the first point of contact on arrival in Pune for the 6,000 athletes, 1800 support staff and 974 technical officials, barring a few exceptions. Welcome kiosks and help desks were set up at the Pune Railway Station and they were manned round the clock to greet Games arrivals and then see them off as competitions in particular disciplines came to an end.
Said Krishnath Patil, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Pune Central Division, “The Railways as an institution has always supported sports, and this time also it was no different. A large number of our staff are athletes and sportsperson so we have taken great pride in supporting the Khelo India Youth Games being held here in our city.”
“In fact, for many of the thousands who arrived for the Games, we were the first face of the local organizers at our welcome booths and helpdesks at the station. Those were opened two-three days before the Games even began.”
“Well ahead of KIYG, we sensitised all of our staff especially those at the station to the task and they were given instructions based on information from Central Railways headquarters in Mumbai that priority should be given to Games participants, whether in terms of ticket booking and confirmation assistance or any other kind of help as many of them would be visiting Pune for the first time.”
“Thirdly, we have been helping out the departing parties by way of confirming their reservations through our quota and in some cases, attaching extra coaches wherever needed, especially towards the Delhi side. Our staff has been on the job 24x7 in this coordinating through whomever the Games organising committee deputed to interact with us.”
Patil said Railways staff had taken great pride in extending whatever assistance was needed to the Games. “This is a national effort and we are glad to have played our part for the youth of India,” he added.
