RPF personnel book AC berths for four puppies on Sahyadri Express; Dadar clerk faces action

MUMBAI: Passengers traveling by the Sahyadri Express were surprised to see puppies for company as Central Railway booking officials at Dadar allotted berths to four Labrador puppies under pressures from Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables accompanying them in the two-tier AC train on Wednesday.
The four in a reserved A-1 berth in train No 11024 from Kolhapur to CST upset passengers. Many wondered why preference was given to canines as reservations for ordinary passengers are difficult to get confirmed, especially in this category, where seats are limited.
The dogs and the five RPF personnel commenced the journey at Miraj Junction and headed to CST. The tickets were booked on the duty pass allotted by the railway ministry to personnel to travel on official work.
A source said that the berths were booked at Dadar PNR’s window No 2 at 8.02am on July 19.
The “aberration” came as a shock to senior railway officials as the rule explicitly states that they can travel in a dog box kept in the train guard’s cabin or in a coupe of the first class AC coach, if there are no objections from fellow passengers. The constables did not want the canines to travel in the dog cabin as one of them would have had to accompany them on the overnight journey. The train leaves from Miraj at 12.05am and arrives at CST at 11.55am.
An official said, “Initially, the booking clerk refused to allot a berth for the puppies, citing rules. But the RPF constables exerted pressure and said the dogs were on official duty.”
The source said action will be taken against the booking clerk.
A railway official said, “Puppies could have been brought in the dog cabin or by road. Apart from inconveniencing passengers, there was loss of revenue as a berth between these two destinations in two-tier AC costs Rs1,055.”
The reservation chart mentions “RPF dog” in the ‘names of passengers’ column. Their ages have been specified as five months.
Central Railway’s CPRO Narendra Patil said that action will be taken against the booking clerk.