Hey Prabhu, things done in your name

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 25

Today, VVIP privileges took precedence over passengers’ convenience at Chandigarh railway station where preparations were in full swing for Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s visit tomorrow. The area in front of the main entrance of the station had been barricaded since morning, causing inconvenience to passengers.

During a visit to the station, it was found that the divyang faced lot of inconvenience due to the barricading of the main entrance area. The security staff said the area had been barricaded to facilitate the construction of a stage for the event.

A battery-operated cart, which has been arranged at the station specially for the divyang, was missing today. A group of six divyangs had a tough time reaching the platform on their wheel-chairs.

Same was the plight of senior citizens. A long traffic jam was seen in the pick-and-drop area earmarked by the security staff. Adding to the woes of passengers’ near and dear ones who were there to see them off or pick them up, a parking space for only 100 cars was provided at the station as the main parking lot was closed for security reasons.  There was only a single lane for entry and exit of vehicles, which led to a traffic jam, especially during the Shatabdi timings in the morning.   

The RPF Station Superintendent, GS Waraich, said arrangements for providing parking facility to commuters was being made at the back of the RPF Office for Sunday. Security staff will be deployed at the station to guide passengers about vehicle movement during the arrival and departure of trains.

Security lapses

It was found that two of the metal detectors installed at the entry and exit gates were non-operational. Security staff at the station did not bother about preventing passengers from boarding the Lucknow Express from the track rather than the platform.  

Security arrangements for the event

Around 200 more RPF and GRP personnel will be deployed at the station on Sunday for the visit of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. Passengers will be allowed to enter through the escalator section from the Chandigarh side as the main entrance will be cordoned off in the morning for security reasons.