Deteriorating Railways in India

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Subroto Sarkar

19 December, 2011

Yesteryear's rail system had some uniqueness as far as service is concerned although there was limited number of trains. However, today, trains have increased ticket prices but the service have depleted in terms of quality.

I WAS travelling from Cooch Behar to Chennai by a train where this green facility was introduced. When the train started, everything was fine but as time went by foul smell started to overpower the coaches. As it was unbearable and we had nausea so I called the conductor guard of the compartment and explained to him our problem and demanded the complaint book so that we all can write and sign. He was neither willing to produce the book nor take a written complaint signed by fellow passenger. Instead, he assured us that he will bring it to the notice of the higher ups. I am sure he has not kept his words as is the habit of railway employees.

The situation occurred due to administrative failure, the station master of Vijaynagram informed the persons very late and refused to keep the train waiting just because one compartment was without water. It was the passengers in our compartment who had to bear the brunt and we went without for water for 10 long hours. Finally, due to the kind intervention of a local station master of an unscheduled station and not our conductor guard that at the last junction water was filled up few hours before we departed from the train.

The service of the conductor guard in trains needs to be questioned. They are posted to take care of the reserved passengers and not collecting extra buck from unreserved passengers and dumping them on reserved ones. During day time they vanish only to be seen when a seat is about to be vacant. It proves that they are sitting somewhere in the train and waiting like hawk to pounce on the person who occupies the seat. In my earlier visits, I have seen them sitting near the doors and blocking the way to the loo and wash basin. Will the association give us a reason for such activity as if railways take a punitive action they will go in for strike?

I am drawing attention to the railway authority to provide a survey form to each and every registered passenger and note their comments as the airlines in international flights do. It will create a moral check as Union leaders can also see what we write.

Food served at South Eastern Railway has deteriorated comparatively. When I travelled to Delhi from Kolkata the food served was much better. The railway authority should form a squad to check these anomalies so that everyone can have a happy journey.