Paan stains, broken floor tiles, damaged seats, litter strewn and vermin in abundance on platforms is the embarrassing welcome the city gives to its visitors
Paan stains, broken floor tiles, damaged seats, litter strewn and vermin in abundance on platforms is the embarrassing welcome the city gives to its visitors
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This is part of MiD DAY's month-long audit of experiences of travelling in and out of the city, where we take up people's issues and place them before the authorities to address.
Thousands make their way to the city to fulfill their ambitions and accomplish their goals. However, if they have made their way to the City of Dreams by train, chances are rats and filthy platforms will be the first to welcome them.
Commenting on the refuse seen at platforms, Prarthana Vichare, said, "When I got down at Dadar station in 1995 for the first time, my impression about the city was bad. 
The platform was strewn with litter and passengers were spitting everywhere on the platforms." Echoing the same sentiments is Rajesh Kumar.
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"I remember when I got down at Kalyan all I could see was dirt and paan stains. I wondered why people wanted to live in such a dirty city."
Railway authorities told MiD DAY that they are inundated with complaints about the dirty platforms and the insects infesting them but they are clueless as they have tried all methods to keep platforms clean but find it next to impossible to maintain them.
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A senior railway official said, "This is a serious concern for us. We keep receiving complaints but we are unable to clean everything. The passengers are not ready to support us at all. They spit and litter everywhere without even thinking of the efforts we take to clean it."
According to figures provided by the Railways, approximately 1.6 lakh passengers alight from trains on the Central Railway whereas 1 lakh passengers make their way to the city via the Western Railway everyday.
On the central line, stations such as CST, Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Thane and Kalyan witness most passengers.
On the western line, Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Andheri and Borivli are the major stations. However, the official told Mid DAY that a few stations especially the long distance ones are neglected by top officials because they do not visit the areas.
He added that the cleaning contract for stations such as Dadar, Kurla and Kalyan has expired. LTT station has a cleaning contract till July 2011.
Pests strike back
However, it is not just the paan-stained and litter strewn platforms that have become nightmares for passengers but also roach-infested trains.
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A senior official said, "Long distance trains have been infested by rats and roaches but in the last few months we have also received complaints about pests in local trains. We are taking extra efforts to get rid of the vermin."
Cleanliness measures
To combat the filth and stench, the Railway board is sanctioned Rs 20 lakh per year.u00a0The Railways have also appointed a mobile gang a group of 8-10 people sweep and clean railway platforms.
Sources said that the CR gets Rs 25,000 per station while the WR receives Rs 15,000 per station for maintenance purposes.
To fight the waste, the Railways have also sought help from technology. "We have bought a vacuum cleaner to pick up litter and plastic.
We also have other electronic devices such as platform cleaning machine, electronic broom and a jet spray. which has been purchased at Rs 1.2 crore," said AK Singh, PRO of Central Railways.
He added that an automatic coach washing plant has been commissioned at LTT station in February 2010.
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According to railway sources, they have been getting fewer complaints after they have started washing the coaches.
"We have undertaken several cleaning activities so that passengers feel cleaner," Singh added.
Officialspeak
Vineet Kumar, Deputy General Manager, Central Railways, said "We are already in the process of cleaning the platforms.
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The stationmaster has been given the impressed amount of Rs 25,000 to spend for cleaning the stations. It's a huge task for us but we are putting our best to clean the railway premises."
Sharat Chandrayan, CPRO, WR, said, "We ensure the cleanliness of the platforms and railway premises. We are making all our efforts to do so. We are hoping passengers support us to complete our mission."
Helpline number
In case you find obscene graffiti or dirt in the train passengers can SMS it the authorities on 9004411111 for CR and 9004477777 for WR.
Reader feedback
I drive from Mira Road to Andheri every day and find the road conditions harrowing indeed. What is the point of paying hefty tolls when the highway is a virtual death trap. During peak hours the traffic moves at a snail's space, and traffic signals are just mere lights on the road. No one adheres to the rules and traffic constables are conspicuous by their absence.
N S Neelakantan
So far in the campaign...
Up in the air
To kickstart the campaign, MiD DAY aired passenger complaints regarding airlines misplacing, mishandling and damaging their luggage.u00a0
Following up on fleecing cabbies at the airport, we found that t ingenious cheats still manage to trap the odd gullible passenger.
We reported on how smartly-dressed touts sporting fake uniforms of reputed hotels take tourists for a ride at the airport.
Down by the tracks
A tour of urinals at railway stations on the central and western lines revealed that they not only raise a stink but are also breeding grounds for diseases
Taking the road less travelled
MiD DAY took a bone shattering ride alongside regular passengers of MSRTC buses only to find that, barring a few exceptions, they continue to be as rickety as ever
MiD DAY found that passengers coming into the city by train are left to the mercy of the auto and taxi mafia outside stations whou00a0 quote ridiculous fares
Despite paying a hefty toll at the various toll nakas to exit and enter the city, all motorists get are pot-holed roads, no street lights and a virtual death trap at night
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