Mangaluru, Oct 22: Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on Saturday inaugurated a new arrival hall area on the lower ground floor for passengers use.

The first passengers who arrived at MIA today joined the airport team to light the auspicious lamp that was followed by cutting the ribbon to mark the occasion, a release from the MIA here said.

Passengers utilised the newly installed travellator to make their way to the arrival hall on the lower ground floor. They also had the option of using the convenient ramp beside it.

The airport has also installed a spacious lift for those passengers who prefer to descend to the arrival hall with their luggage trolleys. The lower ground floor has prepaid taxi counter, smoking lounge, baby care room and washrooms for comfort of passengers.

Dedication of the arrival hall and plaza, spread across 3,531 sq metre, will enhance smooth passenger flow. With this, passenger arrivals will henceforth be handled at the new arrival hall and departures on the ground floor.

This will reduce waiting time for arriving passengers reach the curb side to their respective mode of transport to their destinations. Departing passengers will enter the airport seamlessly from the ground floor, the release said.

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New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.