Passengers loathe abysmal facilities in the once popular Ajanta Express
NIZAMABAD: Several passengers expressed displeasure at South Central Railway (SCR) for the lack of amenities in the once popular Ajanta Express, which runs between Kacheguda and Manmad. Many regretted that even basic amenities were not provided in the sleeper and A/C coaches, despite the heavy fares collected for the journey.
It may be noted that the Secunderabad to Manmad via Nizamabad route ranks amongst the busiest routes in the railways’ network, which is signified by the heavy patronisation by people bound for Shirdi and Mumbai.
Although for the last few decades, Ajanta Express has been acknowledged for its punctuality and quality services, of late, the train’s maintenance has worsened. The coaches are unhygienic and passengers are subject to many difficulties during the journey.
Earlier, Ajanta Express used to start from Secunderabad, while the starting point presently is the Kacheguda railway station.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Prabhakar, a passenger from Malkajgiri, said that they were shocked to see rats having a free run in AC coaches. There is no water supply in wash basins and toilets, he pointed out while wondering how passengers could travel long distances without water.
“Bad and nauseating smell was emanating from the toilets in AC 3 tier coaches due to lack of water. Only some coaches have both Indian and western toilets. Elderly people and parents with small kids faced a tough time on the train,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nizamabad railway station manager Sadashivudu Kuruma said that they will take the problems faced by the passengers to the notice of higher officials. Watering in all coaches is done at Manmad junction. Snags in pipelines are affecting water supply on occasion, he said.
On the erratic timings and the train running late, a senior SCR official said that remodelling works and double line survey in the Secunderabad-Nizamabad route were delaying train services. Moreover, renovation of railway stations is underway in Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Basar, he said.
