Railway officials trespass their own rules

Railway officials trespass their own rules
Vijay Times

SAFETY norms are being flouted with impunity at the City Railway Station, by commuters as well the custodians of the law . At grave risk to life and limb, large numbers of commuters cross the railway tracks at th station every day , just to save a few minutes.

The preferred short cut: the trolley path connecting platforms 1 and 6, which saves them the exhausting walk through the subway or the foot over bridge (FoB). Most of those who resort to this ’method’ are passengers of trains arriving at platforms 5, 6 and 7.

"I usually take the trolley path to avoid the crowd in the subway . With my luggage, it very easy to reach platform 1 through this path," says Arun, a passenger . Railway police officials agree that there is a grave risk involved in crossing the tracks but add tha no accidents have been reported so far .

Ironically , though railway officials claim that commuter safety is of utmost priority , those responsible for maintaining law and order are often seen breaking the rules.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) and General Railway Police (GRP) personnel trespassing on to the platforms on their vehicles, in spite of prominent notices prohibiting such vehicular movement, is a common sight. Police personnel are often seen ridin vehicles, especially on platforms 6 and 7. Despite repeated warnings from senior officials, RPF and GRP vehicles continue to use the trolley path, unmindful of passenger safety . T wo-wheelers pass from platform 1 (from the parcel office side) towards platform 5 and 6.

"It looks like the railway authorities are not bothered about the safety of the passengers. If the officials themselves flout the rules, what can they expect from the public?" asks Purushotam, a regular traveller to Mysore.

A senior railway official told BVT that using the trolley path is prohibited but admitted that it was difficult to stop passengers do so. As regards safety violations by RPF and GRP personnel, he said, "W e will initiate immediate action against those trespassing the trolley path."


Designed for chaos?

lT en platforms at the the City Railway Station
lA subway and one FoB connect all 10 platforms
lA trolley path connects platform 1 to platform 6