Chai, Kapi, Bonda, Cutlet, Yawn zzzzzz

[FONT=&quot]Hi Folks,[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Indian Railways is our best friend with their service to the nation running beyond 140 years and has not only earned the title of Asia’s largest Rail Network also has bagged the IT Transformation Award 2006 of NASSCOM. It has grown in leaps and bounds when it comes to connecting towns cities villages and states across the heart of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]India[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. We are proud of its achievement aren’t we! [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]With 70% of the population of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]India[/FONT][FONT=&quot] depending on the railways be it passenger trains, goods train or suburban locals what is the facility that the railways offer to the commuters. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Are the coaches designed for proper breeze to flow in freely? Are the 3 tier berth arrangements comfortable for a passenger to sleep peacefully?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Is the toilet facility up to the mark? How many of us are happy with the catering service offered by the railways? [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Whether it is an A.C coach or a sleeper coach or a general coach, the facilities are the same! [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The catering service has been offering Idli chutney which is a bit close to average, potato Vada is served with sauce (Yuck) – here the vadas boiled in salt and tempered with mustard, do not expect anything mouth watering, occasionally you may see Mirchi Bajjiyas which is again close to average, the famous cutlets and samosas make their rounds too! The vegetable sandwich is absolutely not worth the money! The chaaz or buttermilk is often sour! The biryani or rice plate is yucky yuck! The chai is plain YELLOW WATER! Kapi is better! Cool drinks carry rocket prices! Lunch and Dinner should be avoided totally! [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Why can’t we have healthy snacks for tiffin, good meal for lunch and dinner! Why have to suffer![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The ticket prices soar every year after the budget but there has been no change in the aero dynamics of the coach which is existing since ages, the food which is oily and tasteless and the berths which makes a commuter to lay still with little breathing space![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]If a commuter has opted for 3 tier AC or sleeper coach and if one of the commuter turns out to be a sleepy joe and loves to roll around can anyone imagine the plight of the other commuter who wishes to sit up and enjoy the passing scenery! Poor guy or gal cannot sit straight as the birth on the top is laid and he has to crawl like a punishment imposed on him or her![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The wash room is disgusting whether it is of an A.C Coach or a General Coach or a Sleeper Coach. There is no cleaner around and the water facility may exhaust without notice. Though there is a halt at the next station, Oh! My God! It does not have the facility to fill the tank of the coaches! A commuter who has to travel overnight may have to bear the stink of the stool and urine till help arrives and may be only in his or her dream![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The windows should be larger in both width and length, there should be little ventilation on the top berth too, the fans should be more speedy, the A.C. should be more cooler, the curtains on the windows needs to be changed often ( do they do that! I doubt my dear friends!), Who needs a pillow and a blanket! What we need is basic facilities which are our right as valid ticket holders![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The worst scenario is none of the railway stations have good catering service; they too sell the same boring dishes across the counter! There are no water coolers on the platform to refilling of water and only the Lord can give us guarantee (if he is ready to appear in front of us!) about the water that is flowing from the taps. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]You will find vendors making brisk rounds with buckets of ice and so called mineral water.. some of the names are not ever heard of too! I have seen in many documentaries, when commuters throw water bottles without crushing on the roads and tracks, they are collected by rag pickers and there is a big business behind it. The next stage workers fill the waters from some leaking tap and pass it to the upper level workers who get them finally sealed with a label! That leaves us on the docks! Isn’t it![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Is this what we are looking for when we are traveling by Indian Railways? Beggars hop in the coaches be it A.C or non A.C. with the pretext of cleaning the floors and nudging the commuters for money! You will find many ticketless travelers standing on board; some unreserved ticket holders have entered the reserved coaches too and are standing at the gangway ogling at female commuters who are going to the loo! [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The water that flows from the wash basin tap is something thinner than the tears which roll down our eyes! The mirrors are patched up with “paan ki thuk” (eating betel leaves and spitting), somehow, the A.C. coach is spared from it! [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The tickets of 2nd A.C. is close to the ticket fare of a cheaper airline, so why will a common man waste his hard earned money and travel by 2nd A.C for 2 days, he would rather take a flight and that is another story on which I will blog later![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]When it comes to facilities, common man has to be taken to account and it is because of the common man, revenue is generated! Millions of Indians are still dependent on rail network and it is high time the government gives us better facility. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Thank our stars, we Mumbaikars have finally got a well ventilated train, but with major technology faults which can be erased over a period of time. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Passenger or long distance trains also should be re-designed, security should be tighter in the trains, the windows should be more larger for good view and breeze (Non A.C coach specially), the seats should be broader, the tier seats should have the facility of a person who can sit comfortably if the other one puts down his seat to sleep, the food service should be definitely improved on a grand scale! The toilets need to be cleant and washed often – here I blame the commuters too, who leave all the manners at home! Beggars should be prohibited from entering the coaches![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]If anyone has passed his stool when the station has halted at a platform, can you imagine the plight of the people waiting for another train with a fresh stink![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Will the railways listen to our plea?[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Yes, if Indians unite and appeal. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Let us use this blog to appeal to the government for a better facility.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Jai Ho![/FONT]
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