India’s railway authorities plan to introduce on-board massage facilities to relieve the aches and pains — and boredom — of long-distance rail travellers, officials said Thursday.
The massage-on-wheels plan follows an announcement by Indian Airways that it will introduce head and neck massages for air travellers during flights.
The rail relaxation plan was dreamed up by officials in the southern state of Kerala, which boasts of being India’s massage centre, the Hindustan Times said.
”If it can be introduced in air, we can do it in style on trains,” Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) chairwoman Padmaja Venugopal told the daily.
The length of time rail journeys take puts many people off travelling by train, but the KTDC plans to turn this aspect to its advantage.
”Many skip rail travel to save time and avoid cramps and unease,” Venugopal said. ”But we can use the time for short duration rejuvenation therapy.”
Venugopal plans to present her idea to Railways Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday, and is confident that it will be taken up without much argument.
If the plan is accepted, high-end customers will be first in line for the massages, which will be introduced on selected long-haul lines such as Madras-Delhi and Thiruvanathapuram-Delhi, the latter trip taking 52 hours.
Aviation experts have reportedly objected to the use of massage oils on planes saying that it is ”combustible and smelly” and high-flying masseurs are limited to powders and pastes.
No such limitations apply to the experts who will be brought on to the trains to soothe the needs of passengers. ”All we need is a table, some experts and the oil,” Venugopal said enthusiastically.
”I will work out other modalities with the railways. It will be a big success for the railways and Kerala tourism.” – Sapa-AFP