Madurai railway junction gets water vending machines

IRCTC proposes to set up an executive lounge and food plaza soon

Passengers buying water from the water vending machine inaugurated at the Madurai Railway junction on Monday.

Five water vending machines (WVMs) were inaugurated at Madurai railway junction from where rail passengers can buy water treated under reverse-osmosis process at an affordable cost.

The WVMs, put up by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), could be operated with coins. Besides, they would also be manned.

After inaugurating the new facility, Divisional Railway Manager Sunil Kumar Garg said each of the machine cost Rs. 14 lakh.

It would also serve cold water.

“Passengers can buy water in their own containers at a cost of Re 1 for 300 ml. The cost for five litres is Rs. 20. However, the passengers will have to pay a reasonably cost for buying containers,” Mr. Garg said.

A glass of 300 ml was Rs. 2 and bottle of five litres was Rs. 25, he added.

Hygienic water

The project was aimed at providing hygienic water for the passengers. Madurai would have a total of six WVMs, he said.

Four similar machines have already been installed in Tirunelveli railway junction.

The IRCTC has proposed to put up these machines at Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Kovilpatti, Dindigul, Rajapalayam, Tenkasi, Paramakudi and Karaikudi.

The machines came with a capacity of producing 200 litres of purified water in one hour.

The quality of water would be closely monitored, said Deputy General Manager of IRCTC V. Ganapathy.

Executive lounge

Mr. Ganapathy said the IRCTC had proposed to set up an executive lounge and food plaza at the railway junction soon.

The executive lounge would be an air-conditioned hall where the passengers could be provided with facilities such as computer, internet and copier machines.

“The passengers will have to pay a fixed tariff of around Rs. 300 for two or three hours and they would be provided with a meal,” he also said.

“The idea is that the passengers need not go out of the station premises for such services,” Mr. Ganapathy said.

Divisional Commercial Manager (Coordination) Guganesan said the executive lounge had been proposed near the foot overbridge.

Madurai Station Manager N.D. Prem Kumar was present.