Title - NHRC directive to Railways

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Ministry of Railways to take appropriate action to address the complaints regarding the use of outdated compartments in trains running in Kerala.

The directive was given to the Chairman of the Railways Board on the basis of a complaint filed by Harikumar of Kowdiar here.

Harikumar had filed a complaint to the NHRC pointing out that most of the coaches of the trains running in the state were in a dilapidated and hazardous condition.

In passenger trains, most of the coaches are not conducive for travelling. The Railways itself has accepted that 70 per cent coaches used in the state are outdated.Harikumar also highlighted the safety issues  arise while using such dilapidated coaches.

The majority of coaches of trains under Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division are in a rusted state.

Of the total 1560 coaches, 920 are 25 years old, and the Railways itself has admitted that the validity of a coach is 25 years, he said in his petition.

The Railways should probe the incident happened in Alappuzha last November in which a coach got detached from the moving train, he urged the NHRC. It was also alleged in the letter that the contractors who were entrusted with the task of cleaning the platforms and coaches show laxity in performing their duties.