Unauthorised newspaper in train: No probe launched

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: There has been no investigation in the case in which an unauthorized newspaper Aryavarth Express was supplied to passengers on the Bengaluru-Chennai Shatabdi Express.

Authorities disclosed that vendors and monitoring officials had been asked to be more careful about what kind of newspapers that were getting into trains and the platform, adding that the matter had been settled. This is despite top railway officials initially promising a probe in the matter.

A Bengaluru Division Railway official, on condition of anonymity, said that although the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Chennai had said that DRM Bangalore was supposed to conduct a probe into the issue, it was not under their jurisdiction.

It comes under Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and we have spoken with them, an official said.

IRCTC regional manager Shrikumar chose to be tightlipped about the issue, saying that they had spoken to the personnel who oversee the handling of the newspapers. “We have issued instructions to vendors and monitoring officials and asked them to be more careful about what kind of newspapers they let in. We have also asked them to not permit any inserts inside the newspapers. National dailies are permitted and this is approved by the railway board,” he said.