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Tatanagar station
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The Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Monday demanded bedrolls for RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) passengers in all long-distance trains that had air-conditioned coaches.
General secretary of SCCI Vijay Anand Moonka said he had written a letter to Union railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in this regard and highlighted the problems faced by passengers travelling on RAC tickets due to non-availability of bedrolls. According to current norms, two RAC passengers are allotted one berth with the coach attendant not providing bedroll to either of them.
“A lot of passengers, especially the elderly and women, face a lot of problems when bedrolls are not provided. We brought up the issue before senior railway officials of Chakradharpur division and also raised it at the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee meeting. But all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears so far. Hence, we have written to the railway minister with much hope now,” Moonka told The Telegraph.
He further argued that if the RAC passengers were made to pay the full fare then why should they be deprived of the bedroll kits, which makes the journey more comfortable.
The senior functionary said that at least blankets and pillows, if not anything else, should be provided to passengers sharing one berth.
A bedroll comprises one pillow with cover, one blanket , two linen and a small towel. RAC passengers complain that they do not get pillows or blankets, but on demand sometimes are provided with linen.
Senior divisional commercial manager of Chakradharpur division K.N. Biswas admitted that the issue had been brought to his notice.
“Only an order from the Railway Board can solve the existing problem,” he said.
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