After having made a beginning at New Delhi station, the Delhi police are planning to open more information centres at important railway stations in the city to help tourists, who routinely suffer at the hands of touts.

After taking charge as additional commissioner of police of the central district, Devesh Chandra Srivastava floated the idea of having information and help centres for tourists, especially foreigners, at railway stations.

"There had been a steep rise in complaints against touts involved in troubling both foreign and domestic tourists at New Delhi railway station. As a matter of concern, we took action against them and arrested around 25 such touts in the last three months," said Srivastava, adding it was a step towards deepening the police-public interface.

"Since there was demand from hotel owners and shopkeepers to open a tourist help centre at New Delhi railway station, we decided to open one," Srivastava added.

Paharganj station house officer Bijender Singh said two women constables who were graduates of the University of Delhi and could speak English fluently had been put on the job at the centre. A sub-inspector will supervise their work.

"Everyday, from 9am to 9pm, they will act as tourist guides and will help them in finding hotels and cabs at reasonable rates. We have provided our officers relevant literature related to tourist places, good hotels and travel agencies in Delhi and guidelines for tourists. At the information, tourists can also lodge complaints, which will be forwarded to Paharganj police station," Singh said.

HT