Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Board hauls up S. Rly for superfluous medical scheme

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI Sept. 20. The Southern Railway has withdrawn its scheme of "medical facilities on wheels", following a dressing down by the Railway Board for seeking to launch it without its approval.

The Southern Railway a few days ago issued a newspaper advertisement seeking expression of interest for providing medical facilities aboard the Chennai-Dehra Dun-Chandigarh Express.

According to the advertisement, two berths would be earmarked for doctors in an airconditioned two-tier coach to render medical assistance to passengers on payment. However, cases arising out of operating reasons and railway accidents and duty railway staff aboard the train would have to be treated free of charge.

Reputed hospitals were asked to submit proposals to the Chief Commercial Manager within a month.

Taking exception to the proposal, the board told the railway that the new scheme rendered superfluous the existing one of giving 10 per cent fare concession to doctors on their giving an undertaking to treat fellow sick passengers in an emergency.

Where was the need for the new scheme when there was already a provision for giving medical assistance, the board asked the Southern Railway.

Following the board pulling up the zonal administration for acting in haste, and its directive, the Southern Railway immediately issued a corrigendum the next day withdrawing the scheme.

Apparently the Railway acted at the instance of a Union Minister without consulting the board.

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