I had travelled by the 22847 LTT Express from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai. The train was filled to capacity and wait listed passengers had also boarded this train in the down stations at Bobbili, Rayagada, Titlagarh, Kantabanji… as this is the only train to India's commercial capital from this region, says Karunakar, who travelled by this train recently.
Many people with general tickets boarded the train till Raipur and Durg as it is serving as a daytime Intercity Express. Many pilgrims from Vizianagaram, Rayagada and other places, find this train convenient to visit Sri Shirdi Sai Baba temple. They alight at Manmad and go by road.
Since this train has such high patronage, we request the East Coast Railway to initiate the following: Increase the number of coaches from the present 19 to 24 by adding a few AC coaches as there is huge demand, convert the train into a daily (as it caters to the needs of people going to both Mumbai and Shirdi) by slightly changing its timings as this slot is filled and run as a daily two-pair Inter-city (like 12805/6 Janmabhoomi Express) from Visakhapatnam to Raipur/Bilaspur/Korba and vice-versa as it reduces the load on this train.
Food quality
I had travelled by 22643 Ernakulam - Patna Express from Visakhapatnam to Asansol (West Bengal) along with my wife, aged 56, and my sister-in-law, aged 62, in 2 AC (berth Nos. 45 to 47). I picked up vegetable biryani packets from the food stall on Platform-1 and later cursed myself for doing so. I had to bear with indigestion, says K. Eswar, 62, of Duvvada.
“We had to spend Rs.300 on transport and reached two hours before the scheduled departure of the train (7.15 p.m.) as there is no stoppage for this train at Duvvada Railway Station. The 2 AC coach was old and not cleaned properly. There was no tissue paper in the Western toilet, chain length is insufficient from the mug, the fans in the toilets were not working, nozzle-type water jet arrangement was not made in the toilet to the inconvenience of senior citizens, physically challenged persons and women”, he says.
Stainless steel mug and chain and liquid soap should be provided in the toilets to save tissue paper, the net-type water bottle holders provided in the 2 AC coach are of poor quality. Steel bottle holders would present a neat and clean look besides being durable.
There is only one mobile charger for six passengers in the coach and the 2 AC and some General Coaches were out of the platform at Burnpur Railway Station.
Passengers including senior citizens, patients, physically challenged persons and women had a tough time in alighting from the coaches with their luggage on coarse surface. “I received an SMS reply from the authorities to my complaint that the platform at Burnpur was being extended but there was no response to the other suggestions made, Mr. Eswar added.
(Reporting By B. Madhu Gopal)
