Despite adverse reports from the coach manufacturers and protests by the Mahalaxmi workshop staff, the Western Railway (WR) has decided to rebuild five of the seven coaches that were damaged in the serial blasts of July 11 last year.

WR also hopes to get the job done before July 11 this year; railway headquarters has sanctioned the estimated budget for the repairs—Rs 1.25 crore .

According to VK Agarwal, chief works manager of Mahalaxmi workshop where the damaged coaches have been kept since August 2, 2006, the repair work will start as soon as the necessary material arrives. “We are in talks with the railway board. When we get the material, the least damaged coach will go for repairs first,” he said.

However, workers at the workshop are not as enthusiastic. One of them said: “We will start work with coach number 846-A. But it is very difficult to work on these coaches and even if they are remade, they will not be safe for commuters.” To this Agarwal replied: “We always care for passenger safety; all measures will be taken.”