Train passengers grapple with water woes, insanitation

LUCKNOW: Cleanliness seems to top the list of issues that train passengers are grappling with as the twitter handle of railway minister is abuzz with cleanliness related complaints posted by people who boarded trains from Lucknow.

“No water in toilet of Doon Express 13009 (lucknow to Rampur in B2- no 28). Mineral water bottles are hoarded by AC attendants and sold at higher prices with porters’ help. People are forced to buy them for toilets. No complaint register with TC,” reads the tweet of Sanchit Agarwal, dated September 18, addressed to the minister of railways.

Another tweet addressed to the minister reads, “Sir, toilets in trains are very dirty… they are not being cleaned. Train no 13308 has reached Lucknow. Its sleeper class toilets are dirty…this bio toilet thing has flopped…it has created more problems.”

Similarly a passenger, who was travelling in Marudhar Express tweeted to the railway ministry, saying officials seem least interested in providing water in toilets.

“The train started from Lucknow but there is no water in toilets in the coach. In the capital of Uttar Pradesh, officials do not bother to provide water in coaches,” his tweet reads.

A large number of plaints related to toilet cleanliness and water scarcity on board trains. However, officials at Charbagh Railway Station said things are fine and cleanliness is not a problem.

Jagtosh Shukla, senior divisional commercial manager (DCM), NR Lucknow, said special allocation of staff has been made at platforms to maintain cleanliness.

“Besides, we have hired experts to ensure cleanliness not only on station premises, but also on board trains. We also organise cleanliness drives from time to time to spread the word about cleanliness among passengers. Recently, divisional railway manager (DRM) Lucknow (NR) also organised sessions with the staff engaged in cleanliness in order to overcome the shortcomings and to boost their morale,” said Shukla.

Despite tall claims by the Railways, the Charbagh railway station dropped to 57th rank in 2017 in a cleanliness check survey carried out at 75 A-1 category stations by the ministry of railways under ‘Swachha Rail Swachh Bharat’ campaign.

In 2016, the station was ranked 43rd.

On the contrary, Lucknow Junction – the station situated a few yards away and governed by North Eastern Railways (NER), got upgraded to 6th position. In 2016 survey, the junction was ranked 21st in terms of cleanliness.

Interestingly, the NR administration had last year hired a company for Rs 3.5 crore to ensure cleanliness at the station and in trains.