Trivial calls flood WR helpline for commuter safety

A helpline run by the Railway Protection Force on Western Railway (WR) for security of commuters have been increasingly receiving trivial calls.
The callers want to book cooking gas cylinders, ask for bank credit cards, train times and punctuality, report incidents of co-commuters chewing gutkha, playing cards or speaking loudly on cell phones, hawkers/beggars boarding the train and non-functioning of fans/tube lights inside the compartments.
In 2013, the Helpline received 5,793 calls from commuters. Out of these, 3,948 were trivial calls, 696 were for reporting about unauthorised persons boarding the coach for the handicapped, 557 were for train enquiry, 410 complained of men traveling in ladies' compartments and 182 were for reporting trespassing.
Helpline 1311 was launched in September 2011 in view of the serial train blasts, asking the commuters to alert RPF officials if they perceived any security threat. "But most of the calls that we receive on the helpline are about minor problems," said Rajendra Rupnawar, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF (WR).
Rupnawar believes that this may be due to lack of awareness among commuters. "But we receive each and every call with seriousness, because at the end of the day, we may receive useful information about miscreants creating nuisance or damaging railway property," pointed out the officer.
Subhash Gupta, railway activist and president, Yatri Sangh, Mumbai, said: "RPF officials should conduct public awareness programmes at each of WR's stations about their Helpline to create awareness among commuters," he added.