E-Paper
Ludhiana Railway Station: Defunct detectors, many entries pose threat to passengers’ safety
Railway passengers have to face inconvenience as the electronic information display boards are nowhere to find at the station; besides this, defunct metal detectors and multiple entries pose a major security risk
Despite having a daily footfall of around 1,00,000 passengers, including migrant workers from different states of the country, the Ludhiana Railway Station scores poorly when it comes to the safety of passengers.
Railway passengers have to face inconvenience as the electronic information display boards are nowhere to find at the station. Besides this, defunct metal detectors and multiple entries pose a major security risk.
Built during the British era, the railway station has multiple entries for visitors creating security challenges for the authorities. The metal detectors installed at the two entry points also remain shut for most of the day. Railway Protection Force officials said the lone luggage scanner at the railway station also remained out of function for around six months before it was repaired. Government Railway Police officials said as the construction work at the railway station for the redevelopment project is set to start a revised security plan is being discussed.
The platform display boards, which are meant to guide passengers regarding the scheduled trains on different platforms, were removed for repair purposes and has not been installed for over a month now. The boards were sent for repair after it developed a snag.
The absence of boards to display timings, besides name, arrival and departure status of trains, including those plying towards different major cities like Patna, Varanasi, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Kolkata is causing major inconvenience. Passengers can be seen hurriedly looking for ticket checkers, vendors and other staff at the railway station to get information regarding the arrival of trains.
Kirpal Singh, who was travelling to Delhi, said during rush hours the absence of the basic facility poses a massive inconvenience to passengers. Adding further, he said the removal of the board has added to the confusion and chaos. A lot of energy and time will be saved if authorities reinstall the board in time, he added.
He said passengers who book their tickets online and visit the station occasionally are among the worst sufferers.
Another passenger, Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Sherpur chowk said due to the lack of space at the railway station, passengers of long-route trains prefer to sit outside and the board provided a major relief to them.
Station superintendent Amrik Singh said the maintenance of such facilities falls under the purview of the telecommunication department of the railways. He added that it was removed as it needed repairs, and the process to reinstall is underway.
