RailEnquiry

Whenever a long distance train reaches Yelahanka railwaystation,alertstaff get into the coaches with buckets and bottles. Passengers may be impressed, thinking that the staff want to waste no time in cleaning the bogies, but the reason is different.
    Facedwithacutewatershortage in the railway station, the personnel collect water from taps in the bogies, to be supplied to the toilets on the platform. They collect mineral water from the first class compartments for drinking.
    Yelahankarailwaystationisone of the oldest stations in Bangalore and nearly 10 trains pass through this station daily. The two water tanks in the station have not been cleaned for ages. The area is reeling under a water crisis and the railway station is among the worst sufferers. The BANGALORE MIRROR correspondent visited the station to checkoutthesituationonMonday.
    The KK Express — Delhi to Bangalore arrived at 12.50 pm and the railway staff were all ready with bottles and buckets. As soon as the train stopped and passengers got down, the staff got into the airconditioned compartments and laid their hands on the drinking water, and filled it in bottles. Another batch went into the toilets in general bogies and got water from the taps. They carried the drinking water bottles to the station master's room and other buckets to the toilet.
    Vasanth N, a resident of Yelahanka new town who alighted at therailwaystationwasappalledat the sight.“The railway employees work really hard but the department is not extending proper facilities to them. The least they can do is provide water,” he said.
    The station also has a power problemandattimeseventheUPS does not work; there are no proper informationboards,waitingroom is dirty and the platform ticket machine nowhere to be seen.
    Station master Rajkumar R said the water tank was built by the British and subsequently the authorities added another tank.“But due to the water crisis, the tank doesn’t get filled and so, is not cleaned. Passengers do not get water on the platform and I have written to the departmentseveraltimes,”hesays.
    Andthepublictoiletinthestation is always locked with a board saying: “The toilet key is available with the on-duty station master.''
    Divisional railway manager of south western railways, S Mani, said Yelahanka faces a severe water problem.“I will speak to the concerned department,” he said.