RailEnquiry

MYSORE: Members of Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee (DRUCC) discussed issues pertaining to passenger amenities and other related issues at the 20th DRUCC meeting here on Tuesday.

The members took up issues related to infrastructure for the benefit of passengers like first-aid box, free electrical adapters in all compartments to charge cellphones, toilet and drinking water facilities at platforms and more ticket counters.

The main demand was to reduce the running hours of train coming under South Western Railways like Yeshwantpur-Karwar train and Mysore-Shimoga-Mysore fast passenger.

They also demanded additional stoppages for some trains at various stations throughout the Mysore division and rescheduling of some trains. They also insisted the authorities to include improvements to passenger amenities on platforms and better comfort levels at waiting rooms.

DRUCC member B S Shankara said the railways does not guarantee safety and punctuality, and many of the actions promised in previous meetings were not followed.

Replying to this, divisional railway manager (DRM) Vinod Kumar said that they take care of 3 lakh passengers everyday. Helplines have been pasted on each bogie to check harassment on women.

Sudharshan from Puttur complained that none of the grievances mailed to the DRM have got reply.

The members asked the officials to visit all railway stations and listen to the public grievances there. "Meetings are of no use if they do not understand the ground reality," they alleged. Responding to the demands, the officials said that they will forward them to the authorities concerned. They will be implemented depending on their feasibility and requirement. A feasibility study will be conducted as per the rules governing such works.

Senior divisional commissioner manager Anup Dayanand Sadhu, railway officials and members representing different areas covered by SWR attended the meeting.