RailEnquiry

KANPUR: At the end of the five-day long festivities, there was massive rush at platforms of Kanpur Central railway station on Thursday. The station which wore almost a deserted look on Diwali day was thronged by thousands of passengers. Being the end of Diwali holidays, outstation passengers were in a hurry to board trains to return. The maximum strength of passengers comprised those who have to join their offices in Delhi and NCR on Friday.Long distance trains coming to Kanpur Central from far-off places were already full. Passengers who boarded the trains from Kanpur Central added to the rush. The maximum rush was in Delhi-bound trains. Passenger rush was also witnessed in trains heading towards Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.The passenger rush was unevenly divided on all platforms of the railway station as passengers waited for trains to arrive. But the trains were running late and passengers had to wait. The moment a train arrived, passengers rushed towards their respective coach to occupy the berths.A large number of passengers were trying to coax the travel ticket examiner (TTE) for a confirmed berth but due to heavy rush they could not get any help from the railway staff. The passengers also sought help from coolies to get a confirmed seat and coolies managed the show and ensured that the passengers could be seated comfortably in the coach. A passenger told TOI he came to Kanpur from Delhi on the day of Diwali and easily got a reserved berth but today there was no place. The passengers were doling out money to coolies, TTEs and other railway staff to ensure a confirmed berth.

On the other hand, a large number of passengers were standing in long queues at the ticket booking counters at the city side of the railway station. Though reservations were hardly available on long distance trains between Kanpur and Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and several other places, passengers were buying waitlisted tickets with the hope of getting a confirmed seat.

Rapti Sagar express, Lucknow-Ahmedabad express, Udyog Nagri, Udyog Karmi express, Pushpak express to name a few are trains on which no reservations were available to passengers.

The worst hit is the Kanpur-New Delhi route. Passengers were therefore unable to find reservations in trains heading towards Delhi. After sweating in the queue, passengers were able to bag only waitlisted tickets. Sources in railways informed there was no reservation in long distance trains till the end of the month. A railway staff on duty at reservation office said, "As the festival of lights has concluded, a large workforce from Delhi has started moving back. This has increased rush on trains and it will continue for a few days more."

He added there was no reservation available in trains till the end of the month. The worst hit is the Shramshakti express which originates from the Kanpur Central railway station and terminates at New Delhi. "Those working in Delhi prefer boarding Shramshakti express to reach Delhi, therefore, this train always runs packed", said the railway official further.

Even VIP trains on various routes like Rajdhani and Shatabdi reported similar situation. Other trains heading towards New Delhi, like Rewa express, Prayag Raj express, Lichhavi express do not have berths to offer to the passengers. Mahabodhi express, Howrah-Jodhpur express, Udyog Nagri, Udyog Kamri, Seemanchal express are packed till the end of this month.

Though on one hand, passengers are feeling jinxed the tight situation has turned out favourable for touts who are more active now than usual days. Touts are making their presence felt at the booking offices where they openly bargain with the passengers.