Senior railway officials continue to travel in air-conditioned compartments, despite the Union Government’s directions to shun the VIP culture.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had asked the officials to give up the luxury of their saloons and executive class travel privileges.
The order issued by the Railway Ministry on September 28 stated that senior officials, including members of the railway board, general managers of railway zones and divisional railway managers (DRMs) in each of the 50 divisions, will undertake long journeys in sleeper and AC 3-tier classes to get the first-hand experience of services and problems faced by passengers.
However, the ministry’s directive made no effect on luxury travel schedule of the senior railway officials.
Barely three weeks after the ministry’s directives, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Dyal Dogra visited the Chandigarh railway station in a saloon (reserved accommodation).
“Surely these officials may have devised some way or the other to continue travelling in luxury saloons,” said a railway employee.
Dr Ashok Tripathi, member, Passenger Amenities Committee (PAC), said while these railway officials travel in super luxury saloons, people crave for basic amenities at railway stations.
He said, “What more one can ask for, senior railway officials took their saloons 168 times to the Varanasi railway station for carrying out inspections that is still in a complete mess. When we asked why officials were paying so many visits in special saloon, the department hurriedly released Rs 204 crore for the development of the station to hush up the matter.”
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ambala division, Dinesh Kumar said he had not received any orders yet.
Despite repeated attempts, Dyal Dogra, who was conducting an inspection at the city railway station, was not available for comments.