A LETTER TO THE RAILWAYS.

Few days back I have written a letter to the railways regarding the facilities and problems in chittoor railway station and got the reply. Take a look

I wrote:

“Sir,
It is to bring to your notice about severe problems being faced by passengers in Chittoor (CTO) railway station.
1. With electrification and diverting of number of north-south bound long distance trains, the facilities at the station remain the same. First of all the signage indicating station name or not proper on platforms 2/3. No one can identify the station name unless u get down to platform and check for the age old british style station name attached to electric pole. Why are new diamond shaped orange on white display boards not provided, and they are not going to cost a lot.

2. Why there are no platform shelters on platforms 2/3. Though work is started it is going in a snail’s pace. sir i have witnessed no of passengers including women ,waiting impatiently under scorching sun and sometimes rain with their children and luggage in hands, many a times seen cursing the authorities for their fate.

3. Ypr-howrah, Rameshwaram-Okha and cape-cstm(one way) are presently not having stoppage at cto. We request you to provide the stoppage for these trains as soon as possible for the benefit of passengers from chittoor. Okha express is imp for all those who travel to shirdi.

4. Sir, it has been a long standing demand of the residents of chittoor to extend the FOB towards bus station. Chittoor being an important transit point for 3 states(one of the biggest busstations in AP), many a people get down at cto station and travel to their respective destn by bus. Just because of not extending the FOB to another platform, they have to travel a round about of 3 kms or pay Autos an amount 0f 20-40 Rs.

5. Lastly, as the express trains stop just for a minute or two it is getting very difficult for us to find out the coach position. Most of the long distance trains arrive at night and present coach indicator boards are never lit or never correct. With increasing revenues from cto station plus consider installing LED based coach indicators, at least on platform 1.

sir, we request you to look in to the matter immediately and bring to the notice of concerned authorities and resolve above problems for the benefit of passengers.”

After 10 days I got the reply from Asst General Manager-South Central Railway, through Asst Divisional Railway Manager –Guntakal:

“Sir,
In reference to AGMs letter cited above pertaining to subject matter, it is informed that

1. Signage boards are essential for passengers to identify the stations easily while on train. These are planned to be provided at Chittoor station by June.

2. Cover Over Platform on 2 & 3: A total length of 55 meters is already planned and foundation work is also completed. This work will be completed by June.

3. Stoppage of Yeshwanthpur-Howrah, Rameshwaram-Okha and Kanyakumari-Mumbai (one way)Express trains at Chittoor: Proposals with justification have already been sent to headquarters office at Secunderabad for consideration as this issue doesn't fall under the purview of division.

4. Already Steel Foot over Bridge connecting PF-1 and PF-2 & 3 is provided at Chittoor. Extension of FOB to the opposite side of the station may cause hindrance for the free movement of Lorries in the loading area. However pathways are provided at both the ends of platforms for easy passage of passengers. Extension of FOB towards new bus stand side will be examined in due course.

5. The works on Train information boards and coach guidance/coach indication boards is proposed to be taken up in the next financial year.

Railway administration would like to thank you for bringing important issues of this nature to our notice.

Yours sincerely,
Addl. Divisional Railway Manager, Guntakal.”

More over tenders have been called on 02-04-2009(Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle) for installing electronic LED based coach guidance boards in Chittoor and Kodur(Kadapa Dist). Tenders have been finalised and allotted on 11-05-09.

What do you say folks? See, proper representation and questioning itself can do some works. Then what are our elected representatives doing?
Let us hope all Govt departments are as responsible as railways.

Venkatesh Chitturi.