Rats nibbling at cables connecting computers to electrical sockets are causing quite a problem at the reservation counters of railway stations in the City and air-conditioned coaches in some trains. Anyone who has queued up at a counter for sometime can empathise with the frustration felt when a ticket cannot be purchased as the counter clerks’ computer screen goes blank after a rat bite.
To tackle this problem, the Bangalore division of South Western Railway has placed orders for the purchase of 20 rat repellants of the `Pied Pipper’ brand. These repellants are not designed to kill or trap the rats but merely to keep them at bay, said the Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Bangalore division, Deepak Chhabra.
These repellants are the size of a small box and have to be merely connected to an electrical point for it to start working. Each piece costs around Rs 1,850.
Elaborating on its functioning, Sanjeev D Badami, Assistant Manager (Sales) of Qualitronics, the manufacturer, said that each repellant could exert its influence within an area of 250 square feet. “An ultrasonic sound emitted by the repellant is audible to the rodent’s ears but not to human ears. This affects the nerves of the rat and slows down its movement. It also prevents rats from nearing the place.” These unique repellants are in use presently in defence establishments, software companies and banks, he added.
The Passenger Reservation System (PRS) at City station will be equipped with three repellants and the two booking offices will have one each, the ADRM said. The Cantonment station will have two while the PRS at Indira Nagar, Koramangala, Banashankari, Jayanagar, Vijayanagar, K R Market and Austin Town will have one each.
The A/C coaches of Udyan Express, Rani Channamma Express and Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express will be provided with two repellants each. “A/C coaches have been selected as rats generally prefer spending time in the cool environment here. We have also received complaints from a few passengers in this section,” Chhabra said.
Gum pads are presently used to tackle the rodent menace. These pads ensure the rats get stuck on to them when moving over them. However, these are small in size and some large ones even carry them away along, he said.
The ‘Pied Pipper’ model was chosen among other makes after testing it for three months at the City station.
