Railway staff board ac coaches illegally, smoke


Siddharth Prabhakar| TNN | Aug 17, 2017, 11:57 PM IST

CHENNAI: Railway officials will now take action against staff who are travelling in 3-tier AC coaches without valid tickets, especially on the Vellore-Arakkonam-Chennai route. The issue was raised by members of the Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) at a meeting held in the divisional railway manager's (DRM) office here on Thursday.

The issue was raised by DRUCC members V Dhasarathan and M Kishore Kumar. "Railway staff show their allegiance to the union and bully passengers. TTEs don't take action against the staff because of this," the members told the meeting, without naming the union. DRM Naveen Gulati, additional DRM SP Sorte, senior divisional commercial manager B Ravichander and senior divisional security commissioner were present at the meeting and assured that they would act on the complaint.

"Smoke filled the entire coach of the Trivandrum Mail. I've given the specific details to the DRM. This nuisance happens regularly," Dhasarathan told TOI.

Gulati assured the DRUCC that action would be taken as it was raised in the meeting for the first time.

"We are aware of this and will devise a strategy as it is a sensitive issue," a senior official said.

Kishore Kumar raised the issue of unions and associations defacing railway stations with posters and banners. "They are given specific areas where they can paste these posters, but its all over the place," he told TOI.

In the meeting, Kishore said the roof of Chennai Central station leaks even if there is a brief spell of rain. A video on messaging platforms which went viral showed how the biggest station in Southern Railway had become like a waterfall. "Parcels are strewn across the platform at Chennai Egmore station which causes problems for passengers, especially senior citizens and the differently abled," he said in the meeting.

Kishore raised the issue of many NGOs willing to beautify stations through CSR activities and urged the officials to simplify the process.

Another member suggested that suburban trains should have an automatic doors to prevent footboard deaths. However, officials informed that it would not be possible currently due to lack of funds and technology.

Twenty-five DRUCC members representing various organisations such as chamber of commerce, trade associations and industries, consumer council of India, recognised passenger associations, associations of the differently abled, GM's nominee, special interest and nominees of MPs were present at the meeting.