No AC at city railway station lounge; passengers suffer

Tribune News Service

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Bathinda, July 29

The so-called air-conditioned lounge at the railway station is a prime example of the apathy of the authorities concerned towards passengers’ facilities.

A passenger says that the lounge does not have an air-conditioner, compelling passengers to fan themselves with newspapers and magazines. Even the toilets are found in a pitiable condition. If first-class ticket holders have to face such problems, we can well imagine how useful other facilities would be for passengers.

“At the entry point, a woman employee has been deployed to ask every passenger if they carry a premium class ticket. Coolers can serve the purpose. The officials seem to have turned a blind eye to the problems of passengers.

Every day, the railway station sees thousands of passengers and a passenger with premium class (AC) ticket can occupy the waiting room for up to two hours before boarding the train. This also exposes the Railways’ failure to fulfil its promise to modernise all the stations. It seems that the planning is still on paper and will take many years to be implemented.

When contacted, Ramswaroop Meena, Station Superintendent at Bathinda railway station, said, “We had written to the divisional authorities to install an air-conditioner at this lounge for passengers. I cannot comment how much time it will take for installation of an air-conditioner at the waiting room.”

However, the railway official said he did not know since when this premium waiting hall had been without an air-conditioner. We needed to enquire about it, he added.

Toilets are also in poor condition 

A passenger says that the lounge does not have an air-conditioner, compelling passengers to fan themselves with newspapers and magazines. Even the toilets are found in a pitiable condition. If first-class ticket holders have to face such problems, we can well imagine how useful other facilities would be for passengers. This also exposes the Railways’ failure to fulfil its promise to modernise all the stations. 

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