Andhra Pradesh Railways Ordered to Pay ₹25,000 in Compensation for Inadequate Toilet Facilities

The Visakhapatnam District Consumer Commission has directed South Central Railway to compensate V. Murthy ₹25,000 for inadequate toilet facilities on the Tirumala Express. The complaint cited poor water supply, air conditioning, and hygiene. The commission held railways accountable for failing to meet essential passenger needs.

In a recent ruling, the Visakhapatnam District Consumer Commission ordered South Central Railway (SCR) to compensate a passenger, V. Murthy, ₹25,000 over issues with toilet facilities on the Tirumala Express from Tirupati to Visakhapatnam. The decision follows Murthy's complaints of inadequate water, poor air conditioning, and an unhygienic environment in the train's 3AC coach. Despite lodging his complaints with SCR's office at Duvvada, Murthy claimed no steps were taken to address the issue, leading to significant discomfort for him and his family during the journey.

The commission emphasized that the railways, as a public service, are obligated to provide passengers with basic amenities, including clean, functioning toilets and air conditioning in premium coaches. SCR, however, argued that Murthy’s complaints were unfounded, but the commission found otherwise, noting SCR’s acknowledgment that a technical air-lock issue hindered water flow to the toilets.

Upon review, the commission ruled in favor of Murthy, citing that the railway's negligence disrupted the promised travel experience. The railways have been ordered to pay ₹25,000 as compensation for the family’s distress and ₹5,000 in legal fees.

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This case highlights the growing accountability of public transportation services for ensuring comfortable travel experiences, especially in premium classes. Authorities have now called for greater vigilance in maintenance checks to ensure such issues are prevented in the future.