SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 17: Dhanbad Rail Division of the East Central Railway (ECR) zone has decided to install water ATMs at 11 prominent railway stations starting next month in order to supply pure chilled drinking water to its customers at a low cost.
If everything goes according to plan, water vending machines will be installed at the division’s Dhanbad, Gomoh, Parasnath, Koderma, Chandrapura, Barkakana, Garhwa Road, Renukut, Choupan, and Singroli railway stations, according to a senior divisional railway officer.
“In the first phase, the divisional railway has planned to set up water ATM at ‘A one, A, and B grade’ railway stations where one-litre chilled water would be provided for merely Rs 5,” said railway officials.
The project was started in 2016, however, due to a lack of maintenance during the Corona pandemic; the majority of the machines became inoperable. According to sources, the divisional railway attempted to revive the passenger service, but no agency was interested.
Passengers have praised Dhanbad Railway Division’s decision, claiming that it will breathe fresh life into long-distance train passengers on the Coal Industrial Chord (CIC) Section throughout the summer.
“Passengers are forced to pay unreasonable amounts to merchants at train stations in the name of chilled water, particularly during the summer when the demand for drinking water rises. However, this facility will provide massive relief to poor passengers who travel with family and cannot afford to purchase a water bottle at Rs 15 to Rs 20,” said Anil Pandey, a social activist who frequently travels in long-distance trains in the CIC Section.
