Surprise checks reveal maintenance negligence on trains at city rly station

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

After multiple complaints by commuters, Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla conducted surprise checks on Tata Muri Express, Shatabdi Express and Hisar passenger at the Amritsar railway station.

Aujla, along with ATM Vipin Pirohit, Assistant Station Manager, Rajesh Gupta and GRP and RPF officials checked all bogies of Tata Muri Express and asked passengers about their experience and complaints.

Aujla said he was shocked to learn that water tanks of the train were not filled since it departed from Ludhiana and passengers were unable to use toilets and washbasins due to lack of water.

Aujla said he instructed the staff to fill the tanks but the pilot did not pay any heed to his instructions. Hence, he had to pull the chain to stop it from leaving the platform and he had to do it thrice. The tanks were filled and toilets were cleaned before the train left the station.

Aujla said similar was the case with Delhi-bound Shatabdi, toilets of which were not cleaned at Amritsar nor the glass panes were clean in spite of his warning to the staff. Moreover, the staff tried to cover up the stink with air fresheners.

Aujla said the condition of toilets in executive class of Shatabdi was disgusting and no official checked the train before its departure. Aujla also inspected the Hisar passenger train, which was the worst in terms of sanitation.

The passengers said the toilets of the train were totally choked since long.

Aujla said he would write to the Ministry, GM, Northern Railway, DRM, along with photos and videos of these trains.

He said negligence by the staff had become the cause of embarrassment for the entire country as thousands of foreign travellers travel in these trains. He added that he had proposed that surplus seating arrangements at the city station must be made and it should be the first station where nobody has to sit on the ground.

“I have asked the DRM to prepare an estimate for the same and I will also be sharing the expenses from my MPLAD funds,” Aujla said.