Far from premium! Passenger finds cockroaches on Gwalior–Bhopal Vande Bharat Express, shares video; railways reacts – watch | Bhopal News
BHOPAL: A first-time traveller aboard the Vande Bharat Express had an unpleasant experience that has since sparked discussion online about hygiene standards on India’s premier train service. Paranidesh Sharma, a resident of Bhind, was travelling from Gwalior to Bhopal on November 5, when he came across cockroaches crawling on his seat. Shocked and disappointed, he recorded a video of the incident and shared it on X (formerly Twitter), calling for urgent corrective measures from railway authorities. Sharma, who had been eagerly anticipating his maiden journey on the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express, said, “The experience was far from what I expected.” He told TOI that he had paid nearly twice the regular fare for the journey, hoping for a comfortable and premium travel experience. Instead, he expressed dismay over the lack of cleanliness, noting that such incidents undermine the reputation of one of the country’s flagship train services. The video, which quickly gained traction on social media, shows a few cockroaches on the passenger seat and near the window area.Many online users call for better upkeep Many online users echoed Sharma’s frustration, tagging Indian Railways and requesting better upkeep of the train’s interiors. Some also questioned whether adequate pest-control and maintenance checks are being conducted on Vande Bharat coaches before each trip. Several netizens urged the railway administration to take the complaint seriously and ensure that such lapses do not recur, especially given the higher ticket prices passengers pay for the service. Harshit Srivastava, Chief Public Relations Officer of the West Central Railway (WCR) zone, confirmed that an investigation has been initiated following a passenger’s video showing pest infestation aboard a Vande Bharat Express train. “This is a premium service, and we maintain the highest hygiene standards. It’s the first such complaint we’ve received for this train,” Srivastava said. He added that the matter is being taken seriously and any staff found responsible will be held accountable. The Vande Bharat Express, touted as a symbol of India’s modern railway infrastructure, is promoted for its speed, comfort, and advanced features such as automatic doors and aircraft-style lighting. Earlier the Comptroller and Auditor General’s performance audit report had spotlighted significant findings from the Rail Madad grievance redressal system, revealing that Indian railways received 15,028 complaints about pests and rodents in train coaches during 2022-23. A major concern was pest and rodent infestation. Out of the total complaints reported, 79% (11,844) of these were from AC class passengers, indicating higher expectations and sensitivity in premium segments.(With Inputs From Arvind Chauhan In Lucknow)
