Three months ago, the Central Railway upgraded facilities in a non-AC coach of Ferozpur-Mumbai Punjab Mail. Last week, the pilot project received a punch in the gut when the express train came back with wash basins broken, toilet seats damaged and taps and other utilities missing.

Chief Public Relations Officer, CR, Sunil Udasi said, "Efforts were made by providing upgraded toilets with tiled floors and walls, a standard seat and water cistern for improved flushing and addressing [the issue of] stench, in one non-AC coach... It worked fine for the first two months, barring theft of taps and mug. Our luck ran out last week, when the rake returned with the first toilet vandalised; a few days later, the second one also was desecrated.