Agartala, Nov 21 (TIWN): The rail passengers have been facing acute drinking water crisis at Agartala railway station due to non maintenance of water taps for long period. Almost all the drinking water taps are lying in miserable condition only because of the negligence of maintenance authority.

In a visit, TIWN team found non-availability of drinking water in most of the taps as the pipelines are partially blocked with irons.

A passenger Kushal Chakraborty (41) said, “I am a regular train passenger in the Agartala-Teliamura route since March, 2013. I have never found drinking water available in the taps from the beginning.” Besides, he alleged that the only water-closet (Toilet) in the station is also lying in dirty and unhygienic condition for long time. The same was found in Teliamura, Jirania and Jogendranagar stations too, he said.

On being asked about the problems, Agartala Station Master informed he has informed to higher authority about the problems. Despite several requests, the North-East frontier Railway (NFR) higher authority did not pay any attention, he said. “However, I shall talk to higher authority again and shall take initiative to repair the drinking water taps to ensure iron-free drinking water to the passengers shortly”, he added.

On the other hand, station authority wastages huge amount of water in the name of cleaning the train compartments at Agartala Railway Station, said a source.