Indian Railways Introduces Machines That Give Free Platform Tickets in Exchange for Squats
The new squat machines are set to come up across railway platforms to encourage fitness and exercise | Image credit : Twitter
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the technology, inspired by Russia's 'squat and ride' machines in subway stations, in Delhi's Anand Vihar station.
- News18.com
- Last Updated: February 21, 2020, 14:22 IST
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While technology usually gets the blame for making humans lazier, the Indian Railways ministry seems to have found a way to incentivise fitness by harnessing modern technology.
Inspired from 'squat and ride' machines in Russian railway stations, Indian Railways has introduced similar technology in a railway station in the capital to encourage fitness and exercise.
Taking to the microblogging site Twitter, Union Minister for Railway and Commerce Piyush Goyal shared a video of a 'quat and ride' machine which allows passengers to get a platform ticket for free in exchange for doing squats.
Apparently called the machine has been installed in New Delhi's Anand Vihar railway station. "Saving with fitness too: A unique experiment has been done to encourage fitness at Delhi's Anand Vihar railway station," Goyal wrote. He added that such machines are going to be installed across railway stations soon.
फिटनेस के साथ बचत भी: दिल्ली के आनंद विहार रेलवे स्टेशन पर फिटनेस को प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए अनूठा प्रयोग किया गया है।यहां लगाई गई मशीन के सामने एक्सरसाइज करने पर प्लेटफार्म टिकट निशुल्क लिया जा सकता है। pic.twitter.com/RL79nKEJBp
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 21, 2020
Squats are an essential part of core strength-training. They help strengthen and tone muscles in the thighs, buttocks, hips, hamstrings and quads while contribution to core muscular strength.
Similar machines were installed in subway stations in Moscow in 2013, ahead of the Sochi Olympics. Passengers who could complete 30 squats in two minutes were eligible to a free ride on the subway.
The initiative seemed to impress netizens on social media, many of whom lauded the Railway Ministry's efforts to make passengers healthier by incentivising fitness through free platform tickets. A Twitter user took to Twitter and called the machine the "Fit India Squat Machine".
Are you fit enough to get a free train ride? 😃 Indian Railways, inspired by Squat-to-ride machines installed in Moscow, will be installing the machines across railway stations. First one to come up today at Anand Vihar Terminal station—called the 'Fit India' Squat Machine! pic.twitter.com/yv8AbhxSJ8
— Anisha Dutta (@A2D2_) February 21, 2020
Wonderful initiative. Till we saw such experimental machines only in western countries but now india also has joined them for this good work which will create awareness for fitness. 🙏Thank-you sir. 😀
— Dr.Deepa Sharma (@deepadoc) February 21, 2020
Wow this is really great. Great Innovation to motivate for fitness... Great respect for @PiyushGoyal one of the best Minister
— Hemir Desai (@hemirdesai) February 21, 2020
PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s Govt is promoting sports and fitness on large scale. Shri Modi Ji in August 2019 had launched “Fit India” Movement aimed at encouraging people of the country to make fitness their life style. Wonderful initiative @PiyushGoyal sir #FitIndia #NewIndia
— Jayvardhan (@mejayvardhan) February 21, 2020
In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Fit India' movement in a bid to make Indians healthier and fitter.
"Fitness has always been an integral part of Indian culture. People are nowadays indifferent about their fitness issues. Some decades ago, people would walk around 8 to 10 kilometers every day and do cycling and run regularly. Due to advent of technology physical activity has reduced," Modi said at the event which was held at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Stadium on August 26.
Incidentally, it is by harnessing technology that the Railways is trying to make Indians fitter.
