Pune: Rs 1 Lakh Fine Imposed on Contractor for Prohibited LPG Usage in Railway Pantry

Pune, 29th May 2023: Startling revelations have emerged regarding the illegal use of LPG cylinders in the pantry cars of trains, despite their prohibition. In a recent inspection conducted by the railway administration, the pantry of Jhelum Express, running from Jammu Tawi to Pune, was found to be involved in such illicit practices. LPG cylinders and cooking grates were discovered, along with a stock of unauthorized water bottles, leading to the confiscation of these items.

The concerned contractor responsible for the pantry has been slapped with a hefty fine of Rs one lakh for blatant violation of railway regulations. The incident has been promptly reported to the Indian Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) by the Central Railway’s Pune Division, under the supervision of Dr Milind Hirve, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, and the leadership of Assistant Commercial Manager Ajay Kumar, Catering Inspector A. R. Arde, and Nirpin Biswas.

The ban on LPG usage in pantry cars aims to mitigate the risk of fire incidents onboard trains. The Railway Board had explicitly instructed IRCTC to enforce this prohibition, prompting subsequent directives to divisional railways. The guidelines stipulated the exclusion of LPG cylinders from pantry cars and proposed the adoption of induction systems as an alternative.

The railway administration is expected to take additional measures to deter such violations in the future.