Miscreants damage facilities on Venad

Kochi: From spick and span interiors to boosting added features like mobile charging points, modular switch points and LED signage, the new rake with Centre Buffer Coupler coaches deployed in popular Venad Express has everything on offer for a comfy journey. However, a week into operation, poor civic sense of commuters has resulted in many of the foldable snack trays and seat tables almost ruined, switches not working properly and wash basins damaged among others.

"I regularly travel in Venad Express. It's only days that the train was given a new look, but yesterday I was shocked to see condition of the new coaches. Certain seat tables were almost ruined and some switches not working properly. The clips of individual foldable snack trays were damaged due to rough use. It points to attitude of our passengers. Swachh Bharath should not be in flex boards but implemented without fail," said Koshy Philip, a daily commuter.

Currently, only two trains in the division boost modern coaches with added safety features- Chennai Mail with the LHB coaches and Venad with the CBC rake. However, the added commuter amenities are available only in the latter. The careless attitude of commuters has even forced the railway authorities to think of awareness campaigns and measures like setting up of CCTVs.

"Another challenge before us is to maintain the bio-toilets, another facility provided in the Venad Express. Passengers ignore warning and dispose bottles, plastic refuse and napkins among others which block the facility. We're carrying out an awareness programme against this," said a railway spokesperson. "We also took up the issue in a meeting with representatives of various passenger associations who want us to set up CCTV cameras to catch the small section of anti-social elements," he added.