The Railway Board on Sunday constituted an inquiry into allegations that an extra coach was attached to Padmavati Express on the request of the private secretary of Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar.
According to a news report, Vinay Srivastava, the Minister’s private secretary and a 1992-batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers official, who was travelling with his wife and two children, had requested for seats on Padmavati Express (train number 19207) between Lucknow and Delhi railway station.
Following the request, an extra coach was attached at the last moment that delayed the train and caused chaos at the Lucknow railway station on Saturday, according to the report.
Both Mr. Srivastava and the Railway Ministry have denied the allegations.
“The Railway Board has decided to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Prima facie it seems that many passengers were unable to get a confirmed ticket due to the festival rush. An extra coach was attached to the train to accommodate the passengers. It was mere coincidence that one of the passengers was HRD Minister’s private secretary. The booking for the extra coach was announced at the ticket counter,” Northern Railway chief public relations officer Neeraj Sharma said.
‘Routine affair’
Mr. Sharma said additional coaches were regularly attached to clear rush on trains. However, Railway officials didn’t clarify why a single coach with half AC first class and half AC two-tier seats were attached to the train to accommodate more passengers instead of an AC three-tier coach.
“I was on a holiday and like any other ordinary passenger. I was travelling with my wife and two children. I had not made any request for an extra coach. It’s impossible. I am not such a senior functionary whose request will be heeded by the Railways,” Mr. Srivastava told The Hindu . He however, said he had requested the Railways for a seat on the train under its emergency quota.
