Usually passenger trains do not stop on platform no. 1 at the Kengeri Railway Station. But on Sunday, the Mysore-Bangalore-Tumkur-Arsikere Passenger train from Bangalore stopped on platform no. 1. And when Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda alighted from it, people at the station mobbed him and created a ruckus for half-an-hour over the hardship that they were facing while reaching platforms 2 and 3 to board passenger trains.
The Minister had arrived at the station for inspection and also to encourage the railway staff to participate in the ‘Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan’ to be launched on October 2.
As soon as he arrived, passengers informed him that they were facing difficulty reaching platform numbers 2 and 3 where passenger trains stop. On platform 1, only express trains pass through. And, the only way one can reach platform 2 and 3 is by way of railway bridge. This being the case, for aged passengers it is quite a task to take the bridge to reach platform 2 or 3. Instead, if passenger trains stop at platform 1, it will be more convenient, passengers told the Minister. Nagesh Hegde, a passenger, pointed out a shortcut people had created to go from platform 1 to 2. He said: “Either they should install a lift or get electric ferry carts. For seniors with luggage and people with disabilities, reaching platform 3 is difficult”.
However, Mr Gowda said he could not add stoppages as they delayed trains and added that the Station Master had been directed to resolve the toilet’s water problem with Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gowda said that by the year-end, Bangalore will get three new trains connecting Ramanagaram, Tumkur and Hosur to decongest Bangalore’s traffic. He also said he would write a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister to take action against people who throw stones at trains around Bangalore city since law and order is a State subject.
