It is most bizarre. According to reports, the Central Railway plans to permit licensed hawkers in local trains. Can there be anything more absurd than this? The concept of crush hour has vanished. During
any time of the day or night, the local trains are packed with passengers. Lakhs of passengers travel in inhuman conditions. Given this rail reality, how could anyone even think of permitting hawkers inside the trains? Did any association of commuters ask for it? Why inconvenience the already harried commuters? The railways would do well to ensure that the fans in trains are working, timely announcements are made, adequate toilet facilities are made available specially for women and the trains themselves are kept clean. Hope wiser counsels would prevail and the Central Railway would throw the proposal in the nearest dustbin.
