Security at peril at East rly station

Security at peril at East rly station
By S Lalitha, DH News Service, Bangalore:
The existing poor security and infrastructure at Bangalore East station has worsened the last one month following the demolition work undertaken by a contractor to build an extended compound wall around the station along Pottery Road.


A portion of the 10-foot wall along Platform Two has been demolished by the contractor to provide access to tractors carrying building material. A representative claimed that permission was taken from the Railways, but the railways deny this. Some metres away, the entire top row of the 20-foot compound wall has given away due to carrying of granite slabs above it from the road to the platform.

Rain and the caving on the ground created by the tractor wheels at this entrance has ensured that people stamp on slush when entering. All trains towards Bangalore City barring superfast trains (except Guwahati Express and Kachiguda Express) stop over here, said a top railway official. Reservation of tickets was also done here.

While entry to the station had always remained open and beggars, homeless people, drunkards, lovers and anti-social elements had always trooped in, the entry has become much more easier.

Asif, overseeing the construction work entrusted to S Kishan Constructions, said, “We informed the Railways and took their permission before demolishing the wall. We had to do this because we used to lift granite stones and other material through the other portion and the top row there started collapsing due to the weight.” He assured that after the construction of the compound wall along Pottery Road, the damaged portions would be set right.

One never knows when that will happen as is proceeding at a slow pace here with the recent festivals and rains ensuring a ten-day break.

Alok Tiwari, Senior Divsional Engineer, Co-ordination, in-charge of civil engineering works undertaken by the Bangalore Railway Division, appeared surprised over the permission taken by the contractor. “I am not even aware of the portion of the wall being demolished. Let me check into it,” he said.

Tiwari also said that infrastructure development work to the tune of Rs 80 lakhs was being undertaken at East station.

“Platforms would be given concrete surface, water would be provided, a waiting hall will be created and the height of both platforms will be increased,” Tiwari said.