Chennai: Despite receiving a major share of the railway coaches allocated by Railway Board across 16 zones in the country each year, informed sources suggest that the zone faces a shortage of about 250 coaches.
According to an RTI filed by Deccan Chronicle, it was found that Southern Railway received 1,670 railway coaches in the past five years. Besides, each year, coaches that exceed their codal life of 25 years are condemned or turned into departmental stock. Southern Railway received 120 coaches in 2016, 263 in 2015, 438 in 2014, 496 in 2013 and 353 in 2012.
“Several trains announced by different ministers of state during the previous budgets have still not materialised yet because of the lack of coaches. Many of the coaches in the express trains are very old and poorly maintained. We have faced issues of windows not closing in the non AC compartments,” said a convener of a rail passenger association, who did not want to be named. “Most of these suburban EMU coaches overrun their daily running capacity and most coaches are not replaced even if they are over 25 years old.”
A top Southern Railway official, however, said, “The allocation process is a never-ending process. The share of coaches allocated is a decision taken by the Railway Board based on the request placed by each zone, the demand, number of trains to be introduced and several other factors. Since we condemn coaches that are over 25 years old, there is a shortage of coaches of about 250 coaches as of now.”
He added that the requirement of the trains is constantly monitored and is managed by the Railway Board. To meet the inflated demand for trains and to beat the waiting list, the zone also operates special and Suvidha trains but, according to passengers, that is not able to keep up with the demand for trains, especially to the southern districts.
The rail passenger association convener added that the periodic overhaul required for train coaches within a span of a few months is not given to them.
“Primary and secondary maintenance of coaches are not catered for, which leads to poor maintenance of coaches. Also, during repairs, instead of procuring new components, parts from other trains are used,” he added.
