Bengaluru: 371 AC Train Coaches To Be Modified At ₹84 Lakh Over Rat Menace

South Western Railway will modify 371 AC coaches in Bengaluru at a cost of ₹84 lakh to prevent rats from entering switchboard panels and damaging electrical cables and AC components. The move follows complaints of AC failures caused by rodents.

Rats have become a persistent problem for the South Western Railway's (SWR) Bengaluru division, with rodents frequently entering air-conditioned LHB coaches and damaging electrical components, leading to AC system failures. To address the issue and prevent further inconvenience to passengers, railway authorities are now modifying 371 LHB AC coaches. The ₹84 lakh project aims to seal potential entry points and prevent rats and other small animals from accessing switchboard cabinet panels.

The railway department has sanctioned a project worth ₹84 lakh to prevent rats and other small animals from entering switchboard cabinet panels. In older LHB AC coaches, rodents were reportedly entering through small gaps near earthing devices and switch panels. Once inside, they could damage AC components and electrical cables by chewing through them.

The damage resulted in AC failures in several coaches, causing inconvenience to passengers during their journeys and prompting complaints to railway authorities.

The issue was subsequently brought to the attention of the Railway's Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO).

Following an inspection, the RDSO recommended a simple solution: sealing openings on coach rooftops and around switchboard cabinets with polycarbonate sheets to prevent rodents from entering.

Based on the recommendation, SWR is now carrying out these modifications in 371 older LHB AC coaches, according to a railway official.

Food Quality Checked On Vande Bharat Express

In a separate development, officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department inspected a catering vehicle supplying food to the Vande Bharat Express at Mangaluru Central railway station on Thursday.

The officials checked the quality and hygiene of the food supplied to passengers and verified whether safety protocols were being followed during food preparation and transportation. The inspection team also checked the cleanliness of the catering vehicle, food storage conditions and compliance with the required food safety standards.

The inspection is part of a larger statewide drive against food safety violations. It comes shortly after the state government launched a QR code-based system allowing the public to file complaints directly with the authorities.

Officials Directed To Inspect Various Establishments

Special inspections focusing on food and drug safety are currently underway across Karnataka. Officials have been directed to inspect paying guest (PG) accommodations, hostels, educational institutions, hotels, railway canteens and food served on flights.

While launching the QR code-based complaint system on Monday, Health Minister UT Khader said the inspections would be expanded to cover such establishments and food service locations across the state.