Compulsion of water

There was a time, when while travelling by Indian Railways meant apart from carrying the luggage, we needed to carry food and water. There comes a special container for the water, specially made for railway travel. There were no paper or disposable cups, we needed to carry the glasses too, so that we could fil it up from the small tap provided in the container and quench our thirst. The water gets over and one used to refill it with no fear in the mind about infection and diseases from any station. There used to be a typical place, with one or two taps providing drinking water, obviously with water and slush all around it. Many a stories are woven when one got down to fill water and the train left….

Then things slowly started changing and Bisleri started making its appearance. People slowly but surely took to it and now one can buy bottles of water right off any station, so much so that many brands started vying with each other. Today what we hear that all this brand fight will come to an end, at least the Railway authorities hope to put an end to it. There will be only one brand of water available across all the stations – Rail Neer.

Railways made it mandatory that only one brand, its own brand, Rail Neer will be available. The others naturally cried foul and filed a case, But the Supreme Court gave its verdict – it has upheld the monopolistic deal of the Railways said that contractors and caterers having stalls on platforms and railway stations to stock and sell only 'Rail Neer' — packaged drinking water supplied by the IRCTC. IT has said that petitioners had no place to complain here and it is the Railways to deal with and carry on business with railways is in no way being affected.

Till all the existing stock gets cleared, other brands will be sold but from a month or so, only Rail Neer will be available. Hope the quality is indeed the best and not like its catering services…