MUMBAI: Central Railway (CR) has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on its housekeeping contractor following the discovery of 91 dead rats in the motormen’s lobby at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) since Monday.
On July 22, motormen and train managers of suburban services were forced to relocate from the running room to the concourse area of CSMT station due to the unbearable stench.As a mark of protest, they had refused to go back in till the problem was solved. They claimed the offices had not been cleaned for quite some time.
A CR official stated, “The contractor, Kings Securities, has been fined Rs 5 lakh after the discovery of 91 dead rats since Sunday.” CR General Manager RK Yadav visited the lobby and spoke with the train crew to address the situation.
The official added, “There is no permanent solution to completely eliminate rodents, as they are attracted to food crumbs left on the floor inside the lobby and on the platforms. However, we have instructed contractors to be more vigilant and ensure regular cleaning of the lobby.”
The lobby, being fully air-conditioned, exacerbates the problem as the lack of natural air circulation intensifies the stench.