DRM interacting with students during the inauguration ceremony of Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Many passengers traveling by ‘Vande Bharat’, a semi-high speed express that runs between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad, seem to be unaware of Swachh Bharat or may have a wrong concept. Barely a week into operation, persistent complaints of filth in coaches are tarnishing the reputation of the state-of-the-art train.
The time has come for train passengers to behave more responsibly. When the Swachh Bharat movement was at its peak, near the Government Polytechnic in Kancharapalem, a private school next to the National Highway carried the right message through a display board: “Swachh Bharat is not throwing garbage of its own accord, and then cleaning doing.” Mess. This is to avoid littering.”
“My first journey on ‘Vande Bharat’ from Visakhapatnam to Warangal was thrilling. The atmosphere of the coach was like ‘Udaan Yatra’. After our train crossed Duvvada, an attendant came and handed us the cup. After 15 minutes, the attendants were serving snacks, milk powder, coffee/tea sachets,” said Ambati Sannibabu, a frequent traveler from Vizag Hindu,
“They took around 30 minutes to serve snacks as they had to attend to all the passengers one after the other as the space in the aisle was limited. Many passengers became impatient and cursing at the attendants as one item after another was served.
“It is indecent on the part of those passengers to behave like this for a slight delay in service. My breakfast was hot and tasted good and my neighbor was also happy with his breakfast,” he says.
Those who do not want food will have to give their option while booking their ticket, which will deduct the cost of food from the ticket fare. Those who do not wish to avail the catering facility on the train will have to ensure that they bring food and water from home as the train stops at less than half a dozen stations and the doors close automatically.
“This train reaches Visakhapatnam to Secunderabad in 8 hours 30 minutes, while ‘Duronto’ takes 10 hours and 15 minutes and most other express trains take an average of 12 hours to cover the same distance. Vande Bharat has some of the most advanced features, and one can ask for onboard services by simply pressing a button and speaking on the mike, without moving from one’s seat,” Mr. Sannibabu said.
Divisional Railway Manager Anoop Satpathy termed the littering in the coaches as ‘unfortunate’ and called for discipline from the passengers.
He said that the time has come to show the world that ‘Swachhata’ is not just a slogan.