Travellers pay heavy price as SR catering sealed at Egmore

The sufferings of rail passengers don’t cease. Commuters at Egmore station seeking a simple, inexpensive meal have been left high and dry after Southern Railways’ officials sealed both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants on the premises last month due to the contractor defaulting on a payment of Rs.2.20 crore. 

The contractor, Arenco, whose contract period is not yet over, had not handed over the initial amount he had promised when taking up the contract though he began and ran the restaurants. Commuters are facing the consequences of this as hotels outside are costly. 

Two idlis cost Rs 12 at the station’s vegetarian restaurant whereas those outside the station charge twice as much for the same item. Both restaurants had been recently renovated and their location was a boon to passengers. Officials were not sure when the problem would be solved, but they were hopeful of early success “as the process was presently under way”, they said. 

While announcements on train arrivals and the colourful train timing sign boards are passenger friendly, amenities for which passengers are charged need to be improved. The prepaid AC waiting room is one of them. The room is full in summer despite passengers having to pay Rs 30 for the first hour and Rs 20 for each subsequent hour. 

Passengers are irked by the fact that the toilets inside are routinely used by railway staff and police. Similarly, when cricket matches are telecast, the room is occupied by railway staff. 

With summer in full swing and cricket matches beginning, the railway management should ensure that the AC waiting room is used by paying passengers and not turned into a free-loaders’ zone.