Railways seeks agency help to rid New Delhi station of rats

To tackle the growing menace of rodents at railway stations, the Delhi division of northern railways has contracted an agency to search out burrows on platforms and eliminate the animals.

To tackle the growing menace of rodents at railway stations, the Delhi division of northern railways has contracted an agency to search out burrows on platforms and eliminate the animals.

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According to a senior railway official, rats travel in droves on trains coming from south India and sneak in from nearby Sadar Bazaar, the Capital’s wholesale hub. “The contract for the New Delhi railway station has been given at Rs 1 lakh per month,” said a senior railway official.

The on-board housekeeping staff of expresses such as Rajdhani and Shatabdi will also be trained to flush out rats.

The private agency will identify rodent territories to spread bromide-coated granules — a repellent. “We can’t eliminate them completely but the number of rodents at the New Delhi station will be brought under control,” the officer added.