Mumbai: Railway officials grapple with spate of toilet fixture thefts
Railway officials are at their wits’ end with robbers have been systematically targeting taps, jet sprays, cocks and faucets from public and staff toilets for the past three days. The cost of the theft so far is Rs 1.22 lakh. The railways have now filed an official complaint with the police, raised monitoring and keeping tabs on public amenities.
“It started on Saturday with theft in the running room toilets. The running room is where train drivers and guards come for rest and break. In this, eight bib cocks, nine stop cocks, and jet sprays were stolen. On Monday, three pillar cocks were stolen from the ladies toilet and another from the gents toilet and also the new AC toilet,” an official said.
“On Tuesday again, the new running room was targeted and two more bibs and stop cocks, and jet spray were stolen. From the main line gents toilet, bottle traps went missing and then the new AC toilet on local line was targeted with six jet sprays, pillar and bib cocks, jet holders and bottle traps stolen and seat covers missing,” he added.
The city’s vigilante account Mumbai Matterz also highlighted the issue on social media alerting the railways. “Taps & pipe fittings at the “State of the Art Toilet” at CSMT are being systematically stolen,” it said, evoking a response from the railways that they will investigate the matter.
Central Railway chief public relations officer Dr Swapnil Nila confirmed the incident and said that the railways have taken the thefts seriously and have filed an FIR with the government railway police and raised monitoring.
THEFT ON SATURDAY 03.02.2024
New Running Room
1. Bib Cock 8 nos.
2. Stop Cock 9 nos
3. 2 in 1 Bib cock with jet spray 2 nos.
THEFT ON MONDAY 05.02.2024
Main Line Toilet
Ladies – Pillar cocks 3 nos.
Gents – Pillar cock 1 no.
Local line AC Toilet
Pillar Cock 1 no.
THEFT ON TUESDAY 06.02.2024
New Running Room
Bib Cock 2 nos.
Stop Cock 2 nos
2 in 1 Bib cock with jet spray 4 nos.
Main Line Gents toilet
Bottle trap 3
Local line AC toilet
Jet spray 6 nos
Pillar tap 1 no
2 in 1 Bib cock 4 nos.
Seat covers damaged 6 nos.
Jet holder 4
Bottle Trap 6 nos.
