PUNE: Usually, the passengers complain about the lack of facilities in trains like missing taps in the toilets or fans not working etc. But interestingly, it has come to notice that lack of these facilities is created by the travellers themselves.
As a part of a project, the railways had installed branded taps and other accessories in CSMT-Gadag Express and the Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai Deccan Express trains. However, thieves stole the accessories like taps worth over Rs 3 lakh from these trains. If the fitting cost is added to this amount, it becomes around Rs 5 lakh.
The Pune-Mumbai Deccan Express recently got a makeover and premium amenities such as branded toilet fittings, water taps and flush valves were fitted in it which were stolen along with 91 other accessories. In Gadag Express which connects Mumbai with Gadag in Karnataka, similar thefts have occurred with miscreants stealing as many as 70 accessories.
As per the information given by a Central Railway official, in Pune-Mumbai Deccan Express, all premium amenities were stolen which has caused the losses worth Rs 5 lakh.
“Deccan Express and Gadag Express were modernised by Mumbai Division of Central Railway under Project Utkrisht, by spending Rs 60 lakh per rake. The Project Utkrisht was launched with an aim to upgrade the coaches of mail/express trains by equipping them with several modern features as well as various passenger-friendly amenities,” said the officer.
He further added, “The railways had installed these branded items to provide premium service to the passengers, but the way they have been stolen raises the question of what will happen only by blaming us? The passengers also need to be responsible.”
TOTAL MISSING FITTINGS
Around 99 toilet fittings were stolen from Deccan Express while 70 fittings were missing from the CSMT-Gadag Express.
“The average cost of each tap, flush valve and health faucet was Rs 1,500, Rs 2,800 and Rs 1,400 respectively. Thus we have faced a loss of about Rs 3 lakh. The stolen items were procured from well-known brands such as Jaguar, Hindware and Sera,’’ an official said.
In train number 11007/08 Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai Deccan Express, 20 flusher valves, 60 health facet and 120 taps have been stolen.
In train number 11039/40 Gadag Express, 27 flusher valves, 16 health facet and 27 taps are missing.
