A recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has flagged deficiencies in basic passenger amenities, including drinking water taps, fans and signage, at Ludhiana junction, a finding disputed by railway authorities who said all seven platforms meet the prescribed requirement for drinking water taps.
At Ludhiana Junction, passengers also raised concerns over the cleanliness and upkeep of existing drinking water points and coolers, saying they often prefer carrying their own water or buying packaged drinking water. “I am a regular passenger at the station. I travel to Jalandhar or Chandigarh every week, but I never trust the tap water here. The surroundings of the coolers and drinking points are not clean.
I prefer carrying a water bottle or buying packaged water instead,” said Atul Mongia, a frequent passenger. Neelam Kumari, another frequent traveller and migrant labourer, said buying packaged water could be an additional burden for passengers who have to spend long hours at the station, particularly when trains are delayed.
