Garib Rath Express: Railway contractor fined Rs 1 lakh for storing water bottles in coach toilet

The Indian Railways on Tuesday slapped a Rs one lakh fine on a contractor after a video showing catering staff using the toilet of a coach of the Nizamuddin-bound Garib Rath train for storing water bottles went viral.

The video dated April 26 showed one of the toilets for the disabled on the Garib Rath express was being used to store water bottles and cold drinks.

"The matter was viewed very seriously and a fine of Rs 1,00,000 has been imposed on the contractor of Bandra Terminus--Nizamuddin Garib Rath after the western railway immediately took up the issue with IRCTC besides taking other remedial actions," the railways stated in a statement.

A show-cause notice has also been served on the contractor of the train for the termination of the contract by the IRCTC. And, a team has been deputed to check and verify the activities and operations of the catering service in Bandra Terminus-Nizamuddin Garib Rath Express, the railways stated.

Only a few days ago, another contractor was slapped with a fine of Rs 1 lakh by the Railways after a video surfaced suggesting that water from a train toilet was being used to prepare tea and coffee. The incident took place in December 2017 onboard the Chennai Central-Hyderabad Charminar Express at the Secunderabad railway station.

A five-day drive has been launched in western railways to check pantry or mini pantry in all trains to review, report and rectify the deficiencies in catering services, according to the statement.