It’s rush-hour at City Railway Station

It’s rush-hour at City Railway Station
Monday August 13 2007 13:34 IST

BANGALORE:: Constantly under criticism for the lack of sufficient toilet facilities in Bangalore City Railway Station, pay and use toilets are finally coming up, providing relief to passengers.

A long standing grouse of passengers arriving at Platform 8 is that they had to come to Platform 4 if they had use the toilets. Now, however, a pay and use toilet facility is available on Platform 8 under the footbridge.

Construction will begin shortly of toilets for passengers on platform 9 and 10 as a site has already been identified. Meanwhile, tenders have been invited for constructing toilets for passengers arriving on platform 2 and 3.

Railways had earlier cited lack of space for construction of toilets, however increased passenger presence in the station has turned it into a necessity.

The pay and use toilets are being seen as an easier way of maintaining hygiene and falls in line with Railways celebrating the present year as the year of cleanliness and hygiene. To deal with increased passenger rush towards Kerala in the coming month due to Onam festival, South Western Railways has introduced special trains.

Railways officials are also planning to attach extra coaches on the train if there is adequate demand. Sources say that the decision to attach more coaches has to be approved from the headquarters and therefore will be decided on a day to day basis.

The City station has found itself unable to add more ticketing counters during this rush season as it finds itself facing a severe staff shortage.

Interestingly enough, the problems seems to lie not in the dearth of personnel, but in the absence of staff working at the station.

According to sources, a considerable number of staff employed at the city station have been recruited under the sports quota. So every time such an employee has a sports camp or a tournament (national and international) to attend, he takes leave for anywhere from 3 months to 6 months! So even if three to four people take off at a time, it plays havoc with system.