Sir, In the last few months, I have been travelling to Chennai and other places frequently by train. Here I wish to share my experience regarding the battery car facility provided by the Railways to help the senior citizens, physically handicapped, patients and the infirm. On more than six occasions I tried to make use of the facility but I succeeded only once with much difficulty when it was slightly drizzling. I noticed the battery car on platform No.1 and called the phone number and the driver replied that it was raining and the brakes will fail and asked me to wait till the rains stopped. Again after 15 minutes I called him and requested him that the train will depart and I might miss the train. After another 15 minutes he appeared from nowhere busily talking over his cell phone. Again he said rain problem but I insisted on him to drop us at platform No. 6. Reluctantly he accepted and dropped us at the specific point. But, throughout the ride the driver was engaged in conversation over phone. I wondered how there can be rain in the covered platform or subway. The battery car operator continued to play truant with us every time we tried to get in touch with. He started giving excuses or even getting angry when asked for his superior’s phone number. Generally, the electric cars do not go out of order so frequently (my experience) except for charging of the battery. Contrary to this, at Chennai Central (very crowded and busy station) a number of battery cars were making continuous, hassle-free trips. I am surprised why there is no monitoring of the drivers and mechanism to regulate the trips in City Railway Station? It is better to withdraw the facility and save the huge expenditure for transporting a few passengers at the whims and fancies of the drivers. Hope the authorities will take appropriate action.
- Dr. Mahadeswara Swamy, Mysuru, 22.10.2017
