The Madras High Court on Friday pulled up the Southern Railway for failing to provide functional toilets and quality drinking water in railway stations in Chennai and warned that it would summon the Divisional Railway Manager if facilities are not provided by July 15.
The First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh passed the order on a PIL from Satta Panchayat Iyakkam (SPI).
“More than 15 lakh people in Chennai commute in the suburban railway system. This is an important mode of transportation for people in around the city. The network has over 70 railway stations out of which not even 20 per cent of stations have functional, clean and quality drinking water facility,” the petitioner said.
On February 11, the High Court directed the authorities to provide clean drinking water and functional toilets at Chennai suburban railway stations within two months.
When the plea came up for hearing on Friday, the petitioner pointed out that the authorities failed to comply with the order.
The petitioner also produced photographs to show that there was no progress in implementing the order.
The Bench also said that they expected the mess to be cleaned up by the next date of hearing and the stations should have properly functioning toilets and drinking water facilities.
Of the 70 suburban railway stations, not even 20 per cent offer clean drinking water facilities
