Title - GM North Central Railway inspects railway station ahead of PM's imminent visit

KANPUR: For the want of requisite funds, Kanpur Central railway station is far from becoming world class. "Kanpur Central comes not even closer to what is actually called a world class railway station. We require lots of funds for transforming Kanpur Central into a world class railway station. If funds are received, it can be transformed phenomenally," said Alok Johri, general manager, North Central Railway talking to media persons here on the station premises during his visit.Johri had come for inspection ahead of inauguration of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) on March 12 when it is expected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will come to the city. Though the PM's visit is not confirmed, a review of the preparation of the railway station was made by the GM, NCR.Johri said there were possibilities of expanding the width of the platform number 1 of the station. "I have asked railway officials to get the parcels lying scattered on platform number 1 be dragged inside the parcel house and vacate space for passengers to walk," said the senior railway official.

When questioned about his satisfaction over the cleanliness on the station premises, Johri said more efforts need to be put in to make the campus cleaner and more hygienic.

He said he had asked the subordinate railway officials to ensure that no vehicle was parked under the portico of the Cantonment side of the station. He told the junior officials to make the parking lot of the Cantt side better and systematic, ensuring that vehicles be given entry from one gate and leave the station premises from the other end. He also mentioned that vehicles not be left parked haphazard. GM told officials to decongest the parking lot on Cantonment side and to make it big like the parking area on city side.

Sandeep Mathur chief public relations officer informed that GM had ordered to look for scope of expansion of the parking lot on the Cantt side for which he had asked to prepare a master plan or a layout. Mathur added that the store house at the Delhi-end could possibly be shifted to some other place at a later stage which would give a major space for the expansion of the parking lot.

Questioned on when escalators would be commissioned at platforms, Alok Johri said the spot for installation of the escalator had already been identified.

When newspersons highlighted need for enhancing security at the Kanpur Central as also on important trains, Johri said RPF cops were escorting important nominated trains and security system at the station premises would be strengthened further.

The door frame metal detectors at Kanpur Central are lying defunct in the want of maintenance. In the absence of any check, the station campus is at risk and enhanced security is in order. The boundary walls of the station premises are broken at many places, which also gives easy entry to unsocial elements.

Harendra Rao divisional railway manager, Akhlaque Ahmed NCR, deputy chief traffic manager, Mewalal station supritendent, Sanjay Pandey RPF inspector and several other senior railway officials from NCR headquarters were present during the inspection.

Kanpur Central on Tuesday wore a much cleaner look following the visit and inspection by Johri. The entire station premises from Cantt to the city side were cleaned up and several passenger amenities were in place. The railway staff was aptly dressed and cops of Railway Protection Force were on their toes. But this rosy picture of the station premises, according to the passengers, is short-lived, otherwise, there is filth littered on the railway tracks and several passenger facilities are in a bad shape.

The inspection began at around 9.30am and continued till over 3pm. Senior railway officials from NCR headquarters in Allahabad and Kanpur Central accompanied the GM on his inspection covering all parts of the premises including circulating areas of Cantt and city side, parking lots, railway platforms, parcel house on platform number 1, CCTV room and RPF station. The GM also travelled far to Govindpuri railway station, Panki, Juhi yard, CPC godown and railway station.

The passengers, while talking to TOI, commented that such a senior railway official should visit Kanpur Central more often so that a set standard of cleanliness was maintained. The railway tracks which often remain dirty and filthy were clean and lime had been sprinkled on them as also on the entire parking lot area and the platforms had been washed.