Railway platforms soon to be leased out for wedding receptions

In an attempt to earn some extra revenue, Western Railways has decided to allow railway platforms to be used for holding wedding receptions. The plan will start with a railway platform at the Surat station.

The proposal for this move will be sent to the Ministry of Railways this week, reported Deccan Chronicle.

After Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu asked the 16 railway zones to innovate on ways to bring about some profit for the railways, the Western Railways came up with the idea to rent out platforms for wedding receptions. The Surat railway station's fourth platform, along with Navapur station have been chosen for this project, with the hope that the Railways will benefit during the wedding season.

A senior railway official said, "Surat station is massive, and there are people there who would actually pay to have their wedding receptions or parties on platforms as well. We will propose platform no. 4 for the project as it has two-three booking offices, which is ideal for these kind of functions," a senior railway official was quoted to have said in a Deccan Chronicle report.

"We cannot carry out the plan in suburban stations in Mumbai city, as they are always overcrowded. But few trains pass through stations like Navapur, and hence there will be more than enough space for such events," the official added.

"We are waiting for a policy that will help outline how we are to go about it," Western Railway divisional railway manager Mukul Jain was quoted to have said.