Platform of despair
A’bad-Delhi Rajdhani Express now departs from platform 10 instead of 6 despite passengers complaining of unfinished paving work, loose wires, lack of refreshment stalls and inadequate seating arrangements
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, April 07, 2013
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, April 07, 2013
The Ahmedabad-Delhi Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express has been departing from an under-construction platform for nearly a month now, much to the inconvenience of passengers. Since March 15, the train has been departing from platform 10 instead of platform 6, as the latter cannot accommodate trains with 19 coaches. But the Western Railway’s decision is clearly unpopular with passengers, who are miffed with the unsanitary conditions, loose wires, unfinished paving work, limestone spraying, lack of refreshment stalls and inadequate seating arrangements on platforms 10 and 11.
Pulling luggage along the dusty platform is no walk in the park either, and results in dirty feet and clothes. The timing of train’s departure — 5.45 pm — adds to the inconvenience of disgruntled passengers who have to bear the summer heat in the absence of proper sunshades. The railways had been contemplating shifting the platform for the train from number 6 to 10 for some time now. Bharti Prajapati, a passenger, said, “The railway officials should have completed the construction and repair work on platforms 10 and 11 before shifting the train.
We have to walk a longer distance to board the train from platform 10, which does not even have clean benches. Even after we get there, we have to stand around waiting for the train, while the workers continue to spray dissolved limestone on the wall. This leads to respiratory ailments. Aseafood storage godown on nearby platform 12 has vegetarian passengers fuming. “As if the problems we had were not enough, we have to bear the stench of seafood also from the nearby godown. The drinking water facility they have built is so dirty that I do not want to even touch the tap.
And there is no refreshment stall either, so I can’t have tea or cold drink if I wanted to.” Another passenger, Gopinath Menon, added, “Everywhere else in the country, a Rajdhani leaves from platform 1 only. I fail to understand the logic behind shifting the platform for Rajdhani, first from number 1 to 6, and now to 10, especially when there are no facilities in place. There are several places in which wires are hanging loose, putting lives of passengers at risk.” Senior citizens and the physically challenged are also disgruntled with the change.
Since there is only one elevator available, many of them are forced to take the stairs and use the foot overbridge to reach their train on platform 10. In addition, the golfcart service has also been discontinued. Since the train is scheduled to depart during the rush hour, many passengers find it difficult to negotiate their way to the platform. Divisional Railway Manager (Ahmedabad) Alok Tiwari said, “Several passengers have requested us to shift the platform for Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express back to platform 1.
However, this does not seem feasible because platform 6 can only accommodate 17 coaches, while platform 10 can accommodate 19 coaches. It is just a matter of time. We are upgrading facilities on this platform as well. Facilities like drinking water are available inside the train too.”
Pulling luggage along the dusty platform is no walk in the park either, and results in dirty feet and clothes. The timing of train’s departure — 5.45 pm — adds to the inconvenience of disgruntled passengers who have to bear the summer heat in the absence of proper sunshades. The railways had been contemplating shifting the platform for the train from number 6 to 10 for some time now. Bharti Prajapati, a passenger, said, “The railway officials should have completed the construction and repair work on platforms 10 and 11 before shifting the train.
We have to walk a longer distance to board the train from platform 10, which does not even have clean benches. Even after we get there, we have to stand around waiting for the train, while the workers continue to spray dissolved limestone on the wall. This leads to respiratory ailments. Aseafood storage godown on nearby platform 12 has vegetarian passengers fuming. “As if the problems we had were not enough, we have to bear the stench of seafood also from the nearby godown. The drinking water facility they have built is so dirty that I do not want to even touch the tap.
And there is no refreshment stall either, so I can’t have tea or cold drink if I wanted to.” Another passenger, Gopinath Menon, added, “Everywhere else in the country, a Rajdhani leaves from platform 1 only. I fail to understand the logic behind shifting the platform for Rajdhani, first from number 1 to 6, and now to 10, especially when there are no facilities in place. There are several places in which wires are hanging loose, putting lives of passengers at risk.” Senior citizens and the physically challenged are also disgruntled with the change.
Since there is only one elevator available, many of them are forced to take the stairs and use the foot overbridge to reach their train on platform 10. In addition, the golfcart service has also been discontinued. Since the train is scheduled to depart during the rush hour, many passengers find it difficult to negotiate their way to the platform. Divisional Railway Manager (Ahmedabad) Alok Tiwari said, “Several passengers have requested us to shift the platform for Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express back to platform 1.
However, this does not seem feasible because platform 6 can only accommodate 17 coaches, while platform 10 can accommodate 19 coaches. It is just a matter of time. We are upgrading facilities on this platform as well. Facilities like drinking water are available inside the train too.”
