Tejas Express to Get Cheaper Headphones After Large-Scale Theft

The cheaper headphones cost just Rs 30 as against the Rs 200 ones that were stolen in large numbers.

(Photo: IANS)

After reportedly witnessing large-scale theft of premium headphones provided on-board the newly-launched Tejas Express, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has now decided to replace them with cheaper ones.

Quoting a railway source, a Hindustan Times report said that a total of 337 headphones, costing Rs 200 each, have been stolen in the four round trips that the premium train has made. Seeing this, the IRCTC gave out cheaper headphones worth Rs 30 each on the train’s fifth trip.

According to an IRCTC spokesperson, 1,000 of these cheap headphones have been procured.

Regarding the issue, a train attendant was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying:

Many passengers do not return the headphones before alighting and take those with them thinking that its cost was included in their ticket fare.

Train attendant 

The Tejas Express was flagged off with excitement for its maiden Mumbai-Goa journey on 22 May, only for it to end with passengers stealing earphones, damaging LCD infotainment screens, and waste being thrown all over.

Railway officials had anticipated minor indiscretions on the passengers’ part, but the reality left them shocked.

The state of the art train has several unique features like running at the speed of 200 kmph, automatic doors, 9-inch LCD infotainment screens for each seat, tea and coffee vending machines, a secured gangway, touch-free water taps, and vacuum bio-toilets.

A passenger traveling on the second day said that the train wasn’t properly cleaned.

Toilets too were unclean. Attendants were ignorant. The food was not as good as during the inaugural run.

A Mumbai-Karmali AC chair-car seat costs Rs 1,190 while executive chair-car costs Rs 2,590 on the Tejas Express.

The train will run on the Mumbai-Goa route on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the non-monsoon period. The train leaves Mumbai at 5.30 am to reach Goa by 1.30 pm, and then departs from Goa at 2.30 pm for an 11 pm arrival in Mumbai.

Between 10 June and 31 October — monsoon season — it will run on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

(Source: Hindustan Times)