New Delhi, Mar 10: Railways Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the launch of first-ever sanitary pad dispensers onboard of passenger train. The facility, launched in Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express on Thursday, will soon be extended to other trains as well, Goyal said.

Taking to Twitter, Goyal congratulated the Railways for the "first of its kind initiative" on the occasion of International Women's Day.

"Railways plans to extend this facility to other trains as well. The move is hailed by female passengers," Goyal added.

The sanitary pads via the dispenser would be available to female passengers at Rs 5 each, Western Railways' chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar said.

Bhakar claimed the pad vending machine on Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani express was a trial launch. However, the facility would be permanently made available soon, he added.

"This is the first train in India in which a sanitary pad dispensation machine has been installed. It is useful for women passengers in long-distance train journeys. We will extend this plan in other trains as well," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 10, 2018 11:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).