RailEnquiry

Chandigarh: Practice what you preach. So goes an adage, but Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal does not seem to believe in it. As he was exhorting students at the railway station to conserve water, water was going waste from faulty taps, just a few metres away at the same platform where he delivered a speech. The taps have not been repaired for a long time.Bansal visited the station for the science express exhibition on wheels today.Ironically, Bansal was seen directing the officials about sanitation at the railway station while, except the passage for the VIP, which was spic and span, the entire railway station presented an ugly picture. Except the area from where the minister walked from platform number one to platform number 5, where the exhibition train has been stationed, garbage was scattered on all other platforms.While the minister touted the ambitious plans for the railway station, he did not notice that there was no security at the entry and exit points of the station. It was found that metal detectors were not installed by the authorities at the entry and exit points.Meanwhile, the minister took serious note of the problem of bird droppings at the Chandigarh railway station and at the same time he issued instructions to the railway officials to modify the platform sheds so as to discourage birds from nesting there. But, he did not have anything on stray dogs who can pose a threat to the lives of not only passengers but also visitors who come to receive their guests.

Fresh directions for officials
The Railway Minister directed the railway staff to remove the grills which have been put up on platform sheds where birds usually nest.Railway officials said by removing these grills the problem of bird breeding at the station will be resolved. They said birds usually litter the platform with their droppings and they had to make special arrangements to clean it regularly. The officials said the department had to drop the idea of installing benches at the platforms as bird droppings would render them useless.The Railway Minister also instructed the divisional heads to speed up the renovation works, which were discussed by him during his last 2 visits.Meanwhile, the Additional Division railway manager visited the city station to prepare a report of the execution of the plans which were proposed by the Railway Minister during his last two visits.

Special winter train

For the first time a special winter train is being introduced from Chandigarh to Ramnagar. There will be four scheduled trips of this special train which will be on November 19, 20, 26 and 27 from the city. Railway officials said on the demand of the public this train was being introduced from this season. With the launching of this train, the commuters of Uttarakhand will be the main beneficiaries. The train will have stoppages at Ambala, Saharanpur, Muradhabad and Kashipur. Railway senior division operation manager Nar Singh said this was for the first time that such a train is being started from the city.

For minister’s autographs

The schoolchildren who came to visit the science express exhibition gathered around the Railway Minister to get his autographs. For 15 minutes students kept standing in a queue to have a glimpse of the minister.

No info on location of exhibition train

People found it difficult to locate the platform on which the science exhibition was stationed as no information centre was set up by the railways.