Water Idea, Sirji!

CR to install manned water purifiers that will sell water for Rs 6 a litre

CR to install manned water purifiers that will sell water for Rs 6 a litre

If the Central Railway keeps its promise, you can expect to buy hygienic drinking water purified through the reverse osmosis process (see box) for Rs 6 a litre at its railway stations in the months ahead.

Stalls run by private railway contractors presently sell bottled water for Rs 12 a litre.

The first of the new water counters that will be serviced by personnel appointed by private contractors who will be selected after floating of open tenders will come up at the CST station by December.

"We decided to charge for water to ensure standards are maintained. There have been many instances where water-filling facilities on platforms have been misused.

We have already taken suggestions from commuters, who have welcomed the initiative," said S Mudgerikar, chief PRO, CR.

Clean And Clear: The water purifiers will be a hygienic option compared to water huts that are not maintained well.

The CR will try the idea out at the CST station, and only after they find the response satisfactory will they float tenders for other stations.u00a0

Stalls run by private contractors at stations will continue to sell bottled water for Rs 12 a litre.

Voices

Not everyone can afford paying Rs 6 per litre.
Saroj Mamgain (25)
CST commuter

We are facing an economic slowdown. The railways should provide free water.
Manish Singh (19)
CST commuter

46
The number of railway stations at which pyaus providing free water were constructed byu00a0Mahavirprasad G Saraf (75), founder of Kirandevi Saraf Trust

70
The number of pyaus of the Saraf Trust that have dilapidated

Did You Know?

The CR has adopted the pay for hygienic water concept from Kolkata Railways, where the project has been a success.

Reverse osmosis involves passing water molecules through a membrane in order to block the contaminants.