Chennai: After intensive campaigning during Rail Humsafar Saptah week, Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials at Chennai has roped in their family members, as a new way of promoting the existing toll free numbers.
The family members distributed pamplets and provided insights to passengers at Chennai Central on Saturday. DC spoke to passengers who recollected the haunting commuting experiences on railways.
Regular passenger, K. Samhitha (23), said she was shocked to see a group of men in the ladies compartment when she boarded an EMU train at Guindy around10.30pm. Rather than acting mum to the situation, she had asked them to move to the general compartment, which had aggravated the male crowd. “We are not disturbing you. Why do you care?” allegedly yelled a tipsy commuter.
Another commuter verbally abused her and started to misbehave. The hapless woman dialed the railway helpline number – 182 which connected to the division headquarters. After learning the primary details like the coach and station, the RPF personnel jumped into the action and arrested them.
Not every woman would react like Samhitha, as the existence of toll free number is oblivious to many, despite railways promoting it regularly. “Had I known about the number, I would have recovered my missing luggage so easily. Such campaigns are the need of the hour,” another passenger, T. Murali said.
While the helpline number- 182 deals with security related issues, railway inquiry number- 139 is in-charge of the railway amenities including lack of dustbins, beggar nuisance etc. RPF inspector from Moor market complex, N. Alagarsamy said they are keen in promoting the toll free numbers to public.
“We are witnessing a considerable rise in complaints as Chennai received over 450 complaints last month, most of them being the nuisance from tipplers,” said the inspector. “In a helpless situation when a woman finds it risky to call, they can send a message on the number giving the particulars,” he added.
