ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: Senate Standing Committee on Railways Kamil Ali Agha has said steps should be taken to transform Pakistan Railways (PR) into a safe, customer-oriented and viable organization.

He was presiding over a meeting of the committee in the Parliament House here on Wednesday. The committee members were briefed on the working of Pakistan Railways and the steps being taken to make it passenger- oriented. They recommended that the railways department should adopt a uniform policy for removal of encroachments.

They said encroachments falling within 100 metres from the centre of the railway track be immediately removed. It suggested that the vigilance section of the railways department be activated to ensure enforcement of the department's writ.

The railway board chairman informed the committee that 10 new trains would be introduced in the next two years. He said Rawalpindi-Lahore Rail Car would be extended to Multan whereas a fast train between Rawalpindi and Peshawar would be introduced soon.

Besides, computerized reservation system and introduction of free package in rail cars and night coaches has already been introduced to make railways a customer-oriented organization.