Benches, seats reserved for soldiers at stations

Vadodara: The Vadodara railway division of Western Railway has decided to reserve benches on platforms and one seat in the waiting rooms of all railway stations under its jurisdiction exclusively for soldiers.

The initiative, which came into effect immediately following directives from the Ministry of Railways, aims to honour the courage of soldiers in the recent India-Pakistan confrontation.

According to officials, the reserved seats will be implemented across all major railway stations in the division — including Vadodara, Chhayapuri, Ankleshwar, Bharuch, Anand, Nadiad, Godhra, and Ektanagar (Kevadiya Colony).

"This is a small gesture to acknowledge the selfless service of our armed forces. The supervisors have been strictly instructed to ensure these seats remain available for soldiers at all times. Beyond providing comfort, officials believe the initiative will serve as a constant reminder to passengers of the sacrifices made by military personnel and help instil a greater sense of patriotism and respect among the public," a senior railway official said