New Delhi: Indian Railways acted tough after the Border Security Force (BSF) lodged a strong protest over “unhygienic and dilapidated” train with filthy coaches.
Four officials from the Alipurduar division, of Northeast Frontier Railway zone, were on Wednesday suspended with immediate effect after the battalion commandant inspected the coaches and found them to be “not fit for travelling.”
The suspended officers are Coaching Depot Officer and three senior Section Engineers.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acknowledged the problem, and said action has been taken.
“The train’s rake was changed. Four officers who were responsible for this have been suspended,” said Vaishnaw.
#WATCH | Delhi | On 1,200 BSF jawans deployed for Amarnath Yatra refusing to travel in the train provided to them, citing poor condition of the train, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, “Action was taken on this yesterday itself. The train’s rake was changed. Four… pic.twitter.com/UURhTZZguP
— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2025
A BSF battalion was scheduled to be transported from the northeast region to Jammu & Kashmir, and deployed for security on the Amarnath Yatra which is scheduled to begin on July 3.
The troops were allotted a special train, which had unhygienic and ‘filthy’ coaches.
“A CAPF special train for Amarnath Ji Yatra duty was requisitioned well in advance and was scheduled to be placed at Udaipur Railway Station (Tripura) on 6th June 2025. However, due to inexcusable delay best known to NF railway, the train was made available only on 9th June 2025 and placed at Udaipur station on 9th June 25 at 18:30 hours,” a BSF officer wrote in a formal letter to the Agartala station manager.
“As such, the departure of the train is already delayed beyond 72 hours, whereas the entire Battalion was supposed to be inducted and deployed by 12th June 2025 as per directions of MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs),” the BSF official further stated.
Videos of the allegedly ‘unhygienic’ coaches were shared online, sparking outrage.
Northeast Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) KK Sharma tried to downplay the controversy, claiming that those coaches were meant to be for dispatched for maintenance or periodic overhauling (POH).
“They were not meant for use of passengers and were marked as such. Some of the CAPF personnel had boarded that coach by mistake, which led to the confusion and misunderstanding,” the CPRO said.
He further clarified that the problematic coaches were detached in Agartala and “all other concerns and objections of CAPF personnel have been resolved. The train has now left for the destination.”
