'Muskuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hai,' would become more realistic in the days to come for tourists visiting the city. This is because of the special training given to porters, vendors and taxi drivers by a state government-aided tourism institute on behavioural skills, and etiquettes. The training is also expected to create an atmosphere of hygiene among the trainees.

"Lucknow tehzeeb ka sheher hai. Isiliye jab koi bhi hamare sheher aata hai to hume is cheez ka vishesh dhyan rakhna chahiye (Lucknow is a city of 'tehzeeb'. Therefore, it is our prime duty to greet tourists visiting the city politely and help then whenever needed,'' says Jai Prakash Chaturvedi, a porter working at Charbagh railway station.

As per him, the four-day training has given an insight into his behavior while he talks to the passengers.

Arun Yadav, another porter, says he now carries his duties and responsibilities in a better way.

Be it a taxi driver, porter or vendor, the training has raised a hope among the experts that soon, Lucknow will return to its old times where mannerism and beauty ruled.

Nawab Mir Jafar Abdullah on the inauguration ceremony of the programme had expressed his hope that the training given to the porters, taxi drivers and vendors will some day restore the glory of the city.

Director, Manyawar Kanshiram Institute of Tourism and Management (MKITM), Prof Manoj Dixit says, "Charbagh is a gateway to Lucknow city. Therefore, vendors, coolies, taxi drivers are crucial links in the chain of service providers to tourists and visitors. Therefore, they should be trained well so that they carry out their services more effectively.'' The training is organized by MKITM.

Half of the total taxi drivers, vendors and porters present at Charbagh have already received the training.

The training being held in four batches aims to enhance behavioral skills among these people.

Station manager, Amitabh Kumar who is actively involved in the training opines that not only providing better services, but the porters, vendors and taxi drivers should know the importance of hygiene.

TOI