RailEnquiry

Lucknow : It appears crowded platforms hold some special attraction for SP leaders, although commuters find themselves in great danger.On Thursday afternoon, people at the overcrowded Kanpur railway station were shocked to see two vehicles, including an SUV, carrying the flag of the ruling SP and trying to make their way through the sea of train passengers to the busy platform number one. There was a name where there should have ideally been a number plate and it read — Romila Singh, city president, SP Women Wing.The vehicles stopped outside the office of the deputy superintendent of police and in front of GRP personnel and passengers. They left after some time.According to reports, officials in the GRP police station chose to turn the other way when they saw the ruling party’s flags, but a few passengers lodged a complaint with a senior official. Though the incident happened at 3 pm, a report was filed in late evening after the local media started asking questions to senior officials.Apparently ‘intoxicated’ with power, Romila Singh brazenly defended her act. “I came to the station to see off some of my relatives. One of them had difficulty in walking, so I brought the vehicles on the platform. When police can bring their vehicles, why can’t I,” she said.Bringing vehicles to the platform is an offence under the Railway Act.Five months ago, SP legislator Shakir Ali had created a flutter when he rode a horse in the crowded Deoria railway station on the Gorakhpur-Chapra section of North-Eastern Railway.The MLA did so because his supporters wanted to celebrate his victory in a different way. “But what about stray dogs, bulls and other animals roaming on the platform? Why doesn’t the railway prevent them from entering the platforms?” the MLA had said.