16 June,2023 06:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
An illustration shows how the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Railway Station in Mumbai will look after its re-development. File Photo PTI
The Central Railway is planning to set up 13 nursing pods at 7 railway stations for its Mumbai division to create space for breastfeeding women.
"13 state-of-the-art nursing pods will be set up at seven major railway stations in Mumbai division to create a comfortable space for breastfeeding women during their travel," Central Railway said in a press release.
The Central Railway release said the nursing pods will be set up at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Panvel and Lonavala stations.
The nursing pods will have comfortable cushioned seating, a dedicated diaper changing station, a fan for ventilation, a light, and a dustbin for the hygienic disposal of soiled diapers, it said.
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Citing that the lack of amenities for expecting and breastfeeding mothers only exacerbates the challenges they face, the Central Railway said each nursing pod will offer a range of amenities designed to enhance the breastfeeding experience for mothers and their babies.
A licenced service provider will be responsible for maintaining the nursing pods, and advertisements will be displayed on the walls of the pods to make them "economically sustainable", the railway release stated.
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A nursing pod each will be set up at CSMT, Kalyan and Panvel stations, while two each will be placed at Thane and Lonavala stations and three each at Dadar station and LTT, it stated.
The pods will be set up under the National Initiative for Feeding and Resting Infrastructure for Stations (NINFRIS) policy it said.
"This strategic distribution aims to cater to the needs of breastfeeding women across the Mumbai division, which witnesses approximately 35 lakh daily commuters, with around 20 percent being women," the release stated.
