- By Akansha Pandey
- Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:48 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
Following the model of the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains, the North Eastern Railway's Humsafar Express will soon be equipped with a public announcement system. The familiar message, "Passengers, your attention please..." will be used to promote cleanliness and passenger awareness.
Cleanliness And Complaint Awareness
The primary goal of the new system is to encourage passengers to help maintain a clean environment on the train. Announcements will regularly remind travelers to:
- Flush toilets after every use.
- Properly dispose of trash such as plastic bottles, wrappers, napkins, and pads, instead of throwing them in toilets or washbasins.
- Keep the provided bedrolls clean.
- Refrain from spitting.
Additionally, the railway will use the system to inform passengers how to lodge complaints effectively using the Rail Madad app and the helpline number 139. The Mechanical Department has already started preparations to install the announcement systems in all Humsafar coaches.
Response To Passenger Complaints
This initiative comes in response to numerous passenger complaints and media reports about the poor conditions on these trains. The newspaper Dainik Jagran had previously highlighted these issues in articles on September 4 ("Humsafar spoiling the journey") and September 16 ("Railway's claim fails, Humsafar's journey is full of hardships").
The reports focused on the Anand Vihar-Gorakhpur Humsafar Express (No. 12572), where passengers described the journey as unpleasant. They cited filthy, water-logged toilets and dirty washbasins in the air-conditioned coaches, noting that complaints often went unaddressed. Many passengers also found the official complaint process on the Rail Madad app and helpline 139 confusing, leading to unresolved issues.
Experts point out that the Humsafar Express uses bio-vacuum hybrid toilets, which require flushing. The primary cause of blockages and unsanitary conditions is passengers failing to flush or improperly disposing of waste, an issue the new announcement system aims to correct.