Mumbai: "Water Vending Machines Will Not Start Because...," Says Railways

Despite scorching summer heat and rising day temperature in the city, the railways have decided not to restart water vending machines (WVMs) at railway stations, which are closed since two years, March 2020, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will be major setback for several passengers who cannot afford to spend INR 15 for 1 litre bottled water at railway stations. Additionally, it will also be necessity for many others to carry water bottles.

Confirming the update, on May 1, Chairman and CEO of Railway Board VK Tripathi said that at this point WVMs will not start as they are a failed scheme. Water is available at railway stations only at our drinking water taps.

However, the railway passengers’ association have criticised the authorities and claimed that this is an excuse to pave the way for marketing the Rail Neer water bottles. It was a good initiative to provide clean water to the public. However, this decision will only benefit the canteen and food stalls. It needs to be withdrawn.

According to reports, there are 80 WVMs on the Central Railway and over 50 on the Western Railway stations installed across Mumbai. Of these, 60 – 36 on CR and 24 on WR stations – aren’t in a working condition. Earlier, in March this year, the WR and the CR authorities had assured that they would be replacing the non-functional WVMs which now seems impossible.

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Created on May 2nd 2022 07:17. Viewed 188 times.

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