MLAs upset at bringing up the rear in trains

Ask CR officials to attach their special bogeys in the middle of the train instead of the end as they feel neglected, left out; railways agree to the demand

FOR our MLAs, who are used to special treatment, it isn't enough that the Central Railway (CR) attaches a special air-conditioned coach free of cost if more than 40 of them put in a request.

They say they feel neglected and left out because the bogey is attached at the end of the train.
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And thus, in a meeting with CR officials last week, the MLAs demanded that the coach be attached in the middle of the train, alongside other air-conditioned bogeys.

The ever-obliging CR, which has also attached extra bogies for MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his retinue on at least two occasions in the past, has not only agreed but has moved on the proposal with surprising agility, bringing it into effect from today itself.

"Attaching the bogey in the middle of the train requires a lot of extra effort. Accommodating the MLAs request and completing the shunting accordingly takes 12 extra moves and over an hour for one train," said a senior CR official.

"The MLAs' request has to be honoured, however, and we had conducted a trial run for the proposal on August 5, when a special bogey was attached in the middle of the Vidarbha Express for them," he added.

Officials say the MLAs will get special coaches in the middle of Vidarbha Express, Mahalaxmi Express, Siddheshwar Express, Nandigram Express, Dadar-Amritsar Express and Devgiri Express from today.

Staff complaints
The MLAs also complained to the CR officials that the catering staff and ticket checkers did not treat them well.

Once again, the railways immediately sent out directions to its staff members, asking them to remedy the situation.

"It was difficult for us to attend to the MLAs as their special coaches were attached right at the end of the train and the ladies' bogeys do not even have a provision for people to cross through them, " he said.

He added, "We had to get off at some station and then climb into the MLAs' coach. Now, however, we have been asked to ensure privileged treatment for the occupants of certain coaches in the middle of the train," he said.

Officialspeak
A K Singh, Public Relation Officer, Central Railway, said, "In keeping with the MLAs' demands, we are attaching their special air-conditioned bogies alongside other AC coaches for the assembly session in a few trains.

We are also attaching extra coaches for general passengers to clear the extra rush during this season."

The Other Side
Shiv Sena MLA Abhijit Adsul, who was present at the meeting, said, "We are always given old coaches with dirty linen and feel left out because our coaches are at the very end of the train.

We are not demanding special treatment but are asking to be treated like other passengers.

The railway staff did not cater to us properly either, but these problems were solved when the bogey was attached in the middle of the train on August 5."