M Rafi Ahmed
As the country goes to polls in seven phases starting from April 19, the candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections more particularly from Coimbatore and Mayiladuthurai constituencies have a vital demand from the railway commuters travelling between these two destinations. Yes, the oft-repeated announcement at the railway terminals before departure–Wish you a happy journey–holds no water as the railway users face untold hardship during their travel due to poor maintenance of the coaches.
A case in point is Citizens’ Voice Coimbatore president C M Jayaraman’s bad experience travelling with his family in Jan Shatabdi express train from Mayladuthurai to Coimbatore couple days ago wherein the restroom in the AC chair car was kept closed using a plastic waste thereby preventing the commuters from using it. Narrating his ordeal, he said that the coach was bereft of water either in the restroom or wash basin.
It is learnt that the maintenance of the coaches was outsourced resulting in poor service. If an AC chair car coach is in a pitiable situation, one couldn’t imagine the plight of passengers travelling in second class compartments. When the concerned staff was questioned about this, he just gave a vague reply that water filling will be done in Erode. To his chagrin, water wasn’t filled up at Erode junction.
Service in one of the most popular Jan Shatabdi express trains leaves much to be desired. The railway authorities just pass on the responsibility to the maintenance staff. Jayaraman said that Blue Mountain (Nilgiris express) which was much sought-after by Coimbatoreans to Chennai lost its sheen after the Cheran express train was introduced. Similarly, Cheran express between Coimbatore and Chennai met the same fate as importance shifted to Vandey Bharat super fast express between Coimbatore and Chennai and vice versa.
Questioning the Indian Railways of step-motherly treatment, Jayaraman said that earlier cleaning staff, plumber, electrician and water man were available at the main junctions in Coimbatore and Erode since these are two nodal points for changing of diesel engines and filling of water to the coaches. This has been indiscriminately given to private parties which has resulted in lack of maintenance of coaches.
Shatabdi Express is a series of fast passenger trains operated by Indian Railways. Shatabdi Express are day trains and mostly return to their origin station the same day. The trains were first introduced in 1988 and were named ‘Shatabdi’, meaning ‘century’, to commemorate the birth centenary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The name “Shatabdi” means century in Sanskrit and the first Shatabdi Express train was announced on 10 July 1988 by then Railways Minister Madhavrao Scindia to commemorate the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and plied between New Delhi and Jhansi Junction. Shatabdi Express trains offer fast connectivity between major cities with only a few intermediate stops and can run at a maximum speed of 150 km/h (93 mph).
Seats in Shatabdi Express have to be reserved in advance as there is no unreserved accommodation, unlike most of the other trains in India. Reservation is allowed until up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time and the seats are auto-allocated by the reservation system.
The Jan Shatabdi Express (‘People’s Shatabdi Express’) is a more affordable and economical version of the Shatabdi Express. The word ‘Jan’ refers to common people. Being an economical version of the Shatabdi Express, it provides the passenger with Air Conditioned Chair Car, Second Class Seating and Unreserved classes. Jayaraman has appealed to the candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections both in Coimbatore and Mayiladuthurai to take this issue seriously with the Union Government once they get elected to the Parliament.
