Title - Elderly people don't fit in SCR scheme of things

Consider this. One has to climb and get down over 50 steps to reach platform no. 10 from platform no. 1 in Secunderabad railway station.If you thought this was a task, then imagine the plight of elderly people and physically challenged, who have to carry their luggage.These days when focus is more on making railway stations convenient and user-friendly for commuters, South Central Railway (SCR) seems to be oblivious to the practice followed world over.“Authorities installed an escalator at Vijayawada station some five years ago. Why can't they have a similar facility at Secunderabad station,” fumes 67-year-old passenger Vijaya Kumari, pointing to the steps at platform no. 10.It's pure hell for physically challenged travellers, as the wheel chairs are not easily made available.While the notice boards inform that the wheel chairs are available at the office of the station manager, no such facility was available in the station. Those who enquire about them are being directed to approach porters outside the station.Here is where the looting begins. While the prescribed charge to be paid to the porter for use of a wheel chair is Rs. 60, they demand much more. “I had gone to the station manager's office for a wheel chair. I was asked to go to the porters at the main portico. I rushed there only to be told that I have to shell out Rs 120. I did not have much time and patience to go back and complain to the station master. I made my father walk to the platform number 4. He had to climb up and get down the stairs. It was painful. Why can't they set things right,” fumed Sumalatha, daughter of 83-year-old Ramulu, on Tuesday.

Everyday over 250 trains arrive and depart from Secunderabad station transporting close to 1.10 lakh passengers. Many complain that the facilities, like waiting halls, drinking water are insufficient and need to be improved.

“I came from Visakhapatnam and wanted to use bathroom in a waiting hall. I had to wait for an hour. How can there be just two bathrooms in a waiting hall, which can accommodate 50 passengers,” asks Shiva Kumar, another passenger.

Even drinking taps are insufficient in the station. On Tuesday, one could see passengers jostling with each other to collect water in bottles near the main entrance.

SCR version

The SCR authorities however, maintain that there are over 150 drinking water taps and ‘sufficient' wheel chairs available in the station. Two battery-operated carts are provided to help elderly people and women move on platform no. 1 and 10, says SCR spokesperson. But one could not find any such facilities on other platforms.

About the provision of escalators and lifts in the station, the spokesman maintained that plans were being finalised to install four escalators by December this year. This apart, ground work for installation of two lifts at platform no. 1 and 10 are completed. In three months, the lifts would be ready, he assures.