industry

Railway travellers can no longer use charging points at night


Railway travellers will no more be able to use the charging points in train coaches during night hours. The railways restricted the facility to prevent fire accidents.

The decision was taken after the Delhi-Deharadun Shatabdi Express caught fire near Kansaro in Uttarakhand on March 13. The fire that started in a coach later spread to seven other coaches.

The railways has also decided to crack down on smokers in trains. It is also considering a proposal to increase punishment for such offences. At present, those smoking inside trains are punished under Section 167 of the Railways Act.

Anyone found smoking is liable toa fine of up to Rs 100. “Apart from switching off the charging points the railways is set to get cracking against those found smoking in trains, and is planning severe penalties, even arrest, for damaging public property,” said an official of Indian Railways.

“Keeping in mind the safety of passengers, the railways has decided to keep the charging points in trains switched off from 11 pm to 5 am,” said Sumit Thakur, chief public relations officer of Western Railway.

Several incidents of fire were reported due to overcharging and heating of laptops and mobile phones that were being charged inside long-distance trains at night. The latest action was initiated to avoid accidents, he said, adding that this directive is being implemented in other railway zones too.

“We are following the instructions. And an intensive safety awareness drive has been launched to educate all the stakeholders – railway users and railway and non-railway employees working in trains and at stations,” said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer of Central Railway.

The CPRO of Southern Railway, B Guganesan, said, “The divisions of Southern Railway have issued instructions reiterating the procedure of switching off charging points in the night.”

The railways also received complaints that fellow passengers felt disturbed due to the charging of mobile phones and laptop in night.

“In every trip, we used to get at least two or three oral complaints from passengers,” said a ticket checking staff of Indian Railways.

“Railway has alerted the employees, including AC mechanics to keep the charging points off during the night. Apart from that, the authorities also decided to conduct surprise checks and take strict action against the staff if any lapses are found,” said a senior official.

Western Railway Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee member, Shailesh Goyal, said that the restrictions on the use of charging points in trains is not justified.

Instead of giving the passengers more facilities, they are reducing them. The authorities must rethink their decision.

Subhash Gupta, another passenger rights activist, opposed the decision. “I am unable to understand why the railways decided to switch off the charging points at night. Mobiles or laptops have become an essential part of our life.”



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