NID proposes 'pilot-like' apparel design for loco drivers
Even while its Railway Design Centre is yet to get on its way, the National Institute of Design (NID) has made a proposal for designing 'pilot-like' apparel uniform for train drivers to the Ministry of Railways.
According to Pradyumna Vyas, director of NID, the premier design institute has proposed enhancement of apparel uniforms of train drivers in Indian Railways and may soon begin work on the same. "The proposal was made prior to former Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi announcing a dedicated Railway Design Centre at NID's Ahmedabad campus. The idea is to develop apparel uniforms for train drivers on the lines of aircraft pilots. While we have made a proposal already, we hope to initiate further discussion by mid-April," said Vyas.
The design and research for the proposed uniform will be taken up by NID's textile and apparel design department.
"Uniforms of aircraft pilots have better functionality as well as visibility. Hence, it is on these lines that we have proposed designing uniforms for train drivers. Not just on its looks, but we will also work on the ergonomics of train drivers. While a detailed study is yet to be conducted, we will take train drivers' work conditions and functionalities into consideration while designing the apparel uniform," said Vijay Katiyar, faculty head at textile and apparel design department, NID.
Further, as part of the upcoming Railway Design Centre at its Ahmedabad campus, NID will develop design concepts in station architecture, coach layout, luggage storage in coaches, toilets, ticketing kiosks and an online services system.
"We will have to take a holistic approach for design intervention in Railways. The attempt is to improve the overall services of Railways which could benefit multi-users like passengers, railway platform users and drivers. Several areas will have to be considered including communication design, signage design, IT integration, catering services, kiosk services and industrial design, among other things," Vyas added.
Moreover, service design for all facilities in trains and at railways stations, exteriors and interiors of railway coaches, environment design and design issues related to public transportation will also be taken into consideration.
Adding further, Vyas mentioned that in all, 70 disciplines of NID will each play their roles as part of the Railway Design Centre. “For this, NID will get Rs 10 crore from the railway ministry to start the proposed centre,” he said.