Rodent menace at Charbagh railway station

The Charbagh Railways Station in Lucknow is famous for its historic building. But it has shot to fame for another reason. The railway administration has announced it is a giving a contract to a private company amounting to Rs 4.7 lakh to thoroughly clear the railway station premises of rats and mice. Rodents in the station are a nuisance: not only have they caused damage to railways property including masses of paper but they have also harmed the property of newspaper sellers on platforms, food outlets and even those selling bottled water (these rats can eat through plastic). Passengers have reported that a big rat looks like a small cat -they would easily weigh half a kg each and terrify children while scurrying through the platform. The company will start work at the end of August.