Title - Problems dog railway station

BHUBANESWAR: Bhubaneswar railway station presents a picture of contrast. While on one hand it boasts of hi-tech facilities like escalators, luggage scanners and touch screen enquiry terminals, on the other there are poor amenities and sanitation, garbage dumps and chaotic parking outside platform-4.

If you enter the railway station through Old Station Square, heaps of garbage will welcome you. And, inside dogs rule the platform 4.

"You will have to jostle your way through a narrow passage if you have to go to the station through platform 4. The entrance remains choc-a-bloc with vehicles," said former diplomat Abasar Beuria. He said the railways has neglected platform 4, which used to be the platform 1 when the railway station came up. "Many people prefer to exit through platform 1 even though the trains halt at platform 4," he added.

Ironically, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has engaged 91 contractual labourers to ensure cleanliness of four platforms. A reality check belies the sheer number.

The railway station witnesses around 55,000 footfall a day. "The sanitation in platform 1 is OK, but other three platforms are neglected," said passenger Kishor Patra.

The ECoR officials admitted that platform 4 is not as clean as platform 1. "Platform 4 is congested and there is lack of cleanliness because of encroachment. We are not able to stop unauthorized entry of visitors," said ECoR chief public relations officer J P Mishra. About the canine menace, he attributed it to jurisdictional problems. "We took up the matter with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) two months back. The civic body is yet to take action," said Mishra. However, city mayor A N Jena said, "Suo motu we can't drive away dogs. ECoR authorities should request us to do it. We have not received any communication from ECoR."