Parliamentary committee criticises Railways over poor passenger amenities
An audit of 177 stations found that only 52 per cent provided the minimum required facilities for passengers.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised the Railways for failing to provide basic amenities to passengers, citing culpable negligence in ensuring essential facilities at stations, according to The Hindu.
During a two-day meeting in Thiruvananthapuram that ended on Wednesday, PAC chairperson K.C. Venugopal, MP, noted that an audit of 177 stations showed only 92, or 52 per cent, had minimum required facilities.
The committee highlighted that bio-toilets and urinals were insufficient at 96 per cent of the surveyed stations. Major stations including Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, and Kollam Junction lacked adequate shelters, waiting halls, and toilets.
Mr. Venugopal stated that ₹11,478 crore from the passenger amenities grant went unspent over five years, with nearly ₹6,000 crore unutilised in 2023-24 alone. He also noted that Kerala is not being treated fairly despite being a high revenue contributor.
The PAC flagged a delay in fixing drinking water issues at Palakkad station after E. coli bacteria were detected. It also directed the Railways to address stray dog problems and requested a report on such measures within three months.
The General Manager of Southern Railway assured the committee that drinking water facilities would be ensured at all stations within the deadline. Officials also said they would consider a proposal to develop platforms 4 and 5 at Alappuzha as island platforms.