The Central Railway sealed a water dispensing machine at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) in Kurla on Wednesday after passengers complained that the water was muddy, emitting foul odour and causing them to fall ill.
The water vending machine located on platform number 1 was installed at the station in March this year and was being operated by Janajal, a contracted firm. Surendra Singh, who suffered from severe stomach ache after drinking the water on Monday, said, “I was at the station to drop my parents. When I grew thirsty, I decided to fill my bottle at the vending machine instead of buying a fresh bottle of water.” Mr. Singh said he paid ₹8 to fill a litre of water, which was supposed to be filtered.
Central Railway staff at the station said the contractor had not been providing safe drinking water. An official said, “The machines installed at platform number 2 and 3 are also supplying contaminated water. We have registered a complaint with the authorities. All the machines are managed by the same contractor.”
Ajay Bose, an activist who filed a complaint on the issue with the Railways, said he confronted the owner of the firm for selling contaminated water to passengers.
Mr. Bose said, “When I protested, the contractor agreed that the machine was dispensing unfiltered water. When I pressed him for answers, he closed the stall and said that he would rectify it soon.” Mr. Bose then registered a complaint with the station master.
The Railways conducts a monthly purity test for the 65 water vending machines installed at stations under the Mumbai Division. The machine installed at LTT was last checked on July 27.
Ravindra Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Central Railway, confirmed that contaminated water was being dispensed from the machine.
Mr. Goyal said, “We have sealed the machine and will check the purity of water being dispensed by machines at other railway stations.”
