Thousands of train passengers traveling through Gadag are facing severe inconvenience due to a lack of water in toilet facilities across most coaches. This issue arose after the railway authorities removed Gadag Junction as a watering station six years ago, with the nearest refill station now located four hours away.
Historically, Gadag served as a watering point since the British era, but rationalization measures and claims of water scarcity led to its removal. Currently, trains, such as the 07331 Solapur-Hubballi service, are reportedly operating without adequate water supplies. Many passengers find themselves without access to clean toilets or washbasins during long journeys.
Manjunath Kanamadi, CPRO of South Western Railway (SWR) in Hubballi, acknowledged the problem, stating that the train is maintained at Solapur station, which is supposed to refill the water tanks. However, complaints have surfaced regarding the Central Railway’s failure to fill these tanks consistently. Kanamadi mentioned that Vijayapura can refill tanks only if notified in advance, highlighting the absence of regular watering points along the route.
Passengers have expressed their frustration, with many reporting filthy conditions and a lack of traveling ticket examiners (TTEs) on board. Local advocate Bheemanagouda Paragond noted that in his extensive travel experience on this route, he has rarely encountered water in the coaches. The issue has been exacerbated by the lack of digital literacy among some passengers, preventing them from lodging complaints online.
Ganesh Singh Byali from the Betgeri Railway Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti pointed out that while local municipalities have improved water supply, the railways still have their own water sources and should provide adequate facilities at Gadag Junction to prevent trains from running dry.
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