Title - Out of order digital board at Cantt station troubling railway passengers

VARANASI: The defunct information display board in the main lobby of Cantonment Railway Station is troubling the passengers. The digital board often goes out of order every day and was lying defunct since 8:30 am on Monday.

Long queues could be seen at the two enquiry counters. Many passengers preferred to get the queries for trains and platforms solved by vendors, cleaning staff and public address system. The station authorities did not take pains to make the display board in working order.

Basic amenities like clean toilets, proper drinking water and medical aid were also missing. "The water taps are not functioning on platform number seven, I had to come on platform five to fill my water bottles," a passenger said. "It is like if you are not travelling with an AC ticket, you cannot get better facilities. Only fan is functioning in the waiting area and toilets are very unhygienic," Ajay, a passenger waiting for Lichhavi Express, complained. The slow pace of stone slab laying work going on at platforms is increasing the woes of passengers. The situation becomes worst when the trolley men carry parcels and big packets to the railway mail service on the busy platforms.

Station manager AK Pandey said that the situation is likely to improve when the slab laying work will get completed. The stone slabs will be fitted on platform number one for levelling the surface. The construction pace is slow but will be completed before monsoon.

Regarding medical aid at the station, Pandey said that medical aid is provided from the OPD of northern railways outside the station premises. The staff of the clinic which has the responsibility to look after injured and medically unfit passengers as well as northern railway employees informed that one sanctioned post of a doctor is lying vacant for about 18 months. The station also does not have its own ambulance.

"The station authorities inform us about the medically unfit passengers. Some 35 to 40 cases are reported every month. Since we do not have the facility to admit patients, it becomes difficult for us to cure sick persons properly. Guard in every train is given first training and provided with a first aid kit. A first aid kit, two wheelchairs and four stretchers are provided in the station premises at platform number five and station authorities keep a check on it," Dr Mahendra Chaudhary, chief medical superintendent, Northern Railways, Varanasi, said. However, a check revealed that no person was available to provide first aid in the station premise