RailEnquiry

Amritsar: Erratic and long power cuts have not only troubled residents in the holy city, but have also affected rail commuters at the Amritsar railway station.Sources said the station sometimes does not have power for 15 hours in a day.In the absence of electricity, passengers waiting for their trains at the station complain of lack of attention from the authorities. Even passengers don’t get cold water to drink as the water coolers remain nonfunctional during power cuts.A pilgrim, Parminder Singh said passengers were forced to buy water bottles from the outlets at the station. He said several persons aren’t in a position to spend money on water. Many a times, even the water in the bottles aren’t cold.With fans non-operational, passengers and their relatives use hankies, dupattas and newspapers to fan themselves.Many passengers at general waiting hall said newly laid concrete roof is unable to absorb heat. A waiting passenger Rajinder Handa from Dera Baba Nanak remarked that the previous roof over the hall was reasonably thick and used to absorb the heat well. A shopkeeper on the platform said power cuts have dealt a blow to their business as well.The railway station witnesses departure and arrival of 128 trains daily. And the daily average footfall at the station is 26,562.Northern Railway’s Ferozepur zone Divisional Railway Manager Naresh Chander Goel said he would take stock of the situation and then would act accordingly.

Power-less

The station sometimes does not have power for 15 hours in a day Passengers don’t get cold water to drink as the water coolers remain nonfunctional during power cuts Even bottled water sold at eateries turn hot Many passengers at general waiting hall say the newly laid concrete roof is unable to absorb heat