Hi,
We should always insist on a receipt on certain services like pantry car and Blanket in Garib Raths. BTW, i have not come across a litre of water for 15/- inside trains. I had enquired on a stall at platform1 at Rajahmundry. The guy said it was priced at 15/-. I purchased water bottle from pantry staff. I have purchased bottles of water at 12/, 13/- inside trains.
Regarding coaches, I must say all the sleeper coaches should be revamped. There should be basic facilities placeholders for bottles for every seat,...
more... mirrors in each bay, charging point for mobiles(working).
I have never seen 2 litres bottles in Rstations. Maybe, in big stations like vijayawada, vskp, they may be sold. But i have never come accross pantry guys selling 2 litre water bottles.
I am of the opinion that the cleaning services like those of Railway stations, coaches should be given to private parties and frequent audits should be conducted to check whether they are upto mark.
I have travelled in trains like Prashanti Express, where there were stickers saying "coach disinfectation done on so and so date"......i cant remember the exact term.......it means, no insects in the coach. In my travel i had found insects(relatives of those coackroaches) in 3AC and the sticked said disinfectation done a day before. Even private parties are not cleaning the coach and simply updated the log on the stickers saying done on so and so date. I am not generalizing it(i have done a lot of travel after that and found many trains pest free like, KCG - YPR , HWH - YPR, LALBAGH, ETC ETC) , but i had noticed on this particular train this year in Feb.
Abhishek Chanda