Title - EVERYTHING LOOKED SQUEAKY CLEAN Though passengers always complain that facilities offered by the rai

They parroted answers like obedient school kids. For every question asked, they had a ready reply. This was a surprise for TOI reporter Gireesh P Krishnan who accompanied Southern Railway (Ekm) area manager P L Ashok Kumar, station manager P Chandran and deputy manager (commercial) Sam George to oversee the amenities at the Ernakulam South railway station while checking the cleanliness of train compartments. The neat and clean platform, workers busy tidying up the place seemed unreal when one considered the recent rise in complaints against the railways for a host of reasons ranging from unclean toilets to waterless compartments. But Ashok Kumar ensured that the walk the talk helped clear all ‘misunderstandings’.
    It is 12:30 pm. Ashok Kumar is walking on platform number one along with P Chandran and Sam George and the station is busy despite the noon hour. Kumar enters the spotlessly clean upper class restroom and chats with an elderly man, Ramachandran.
    Kumar: Hello sir, how do you find this room? Is it comfortable?
    Ramachandran: Not that bad. It is a bit stuffy.
    As we move ahead, Kumar admits that it would take quite some time to revamp the existing facilities. Kumar informs that a private agency has been contracted to keep the station tidy.
    He talks to the cleaners, inspects their work and nods. They are doing fine, he says and Mangala Lakshadweep Express moves into platform one. The train stops and Kumar enters a 3AC compartment. There is no musty smell in the compartment, the bedspreads and pillows are arranged in an orderly fashion. The attendant is seen arranging the curtains. The compartment seems fine, remarks the official and he ascertains the condition of the toilets. Sur prisingly, they are hygienic. The taps too are running and everything seems to be in order.
    Kumar inspects two sleeper compartments too and here also we encounter a clean space, all amenities in place.
    Our next destination is the pantry car. The catering manager is busy supervising the supplies. We do not see any rats, nothing looks out of place.
    Kumar: Is everything ready for the journey?
    Manager: Almost, we just need to move a few utensils
    Kumar:You have stocked up your supplies?
    Manager: We mostly buy our stuff from the city before each journey, be it water or vegetables.
    Kumar assures that the quality is ensured by health inspectors who check food items at the station before every trip.
    Kumar concludes the inspection after talking to a British tourist Emily Mischlev who agrees that the station appears clean.
WHAT NEXT?
    The area manager observed that all platforms needed complete roofing and platform six lacked water taps. “The restroom for upper class passengers is inadequate. We have already formulated a master plan to provide quality facilities by revamping the station. Our plan is to increase the number of retiring rooms and we are looking for sponsors to add more facilities. It will take time,” said Ashok Kumar.
HELPLINE Citizens can call the area manager to register their complaints. The number is 0484-2375701.