Lack of seats adds to woes of passengers at railway station

BATHINDA: Hundreds of passengers visiting the city railway station are irked due to the poor seating arrangements. As there are an inadequate number of seats, passengers can be easily seen sitting on the floor near the entrance, foot overbridge and platforms at the railway station.

Passengers sit on the floor at the railway station in Bathinda. Photo: Vijay Kumar

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 5

Hundreds of passengers visiting the city railway station are irked due to the poor seating arrangements. As there are an inadequate number of seats, passengers can be easily seen sitting on the floor near the entrance, foot overbridge and platforms at the railway station.

There are four small benches installed near the booking counters, which can only accommodate around about 15 persons. As a result, many passengers, including elderly and physically disabled, can be seen sitting on the floor along with their luggage.

Sanchita Sharma, a passenger, who was waiting for the train while sitting on the floor with her parents, said, “As there is no vacant seat, I have to stand for about 30 minutes, but despite waiting for so long, the train has not arrived. So, we decided to sit on the floor.”

“Considering the large number of passengers at one of the busiest railway stations in the region, the authorities should have made better seating arrangements. While men and youngsters can stand for some time, it is difficult for the elderly, children and handicapped to stand for long,” she added.

A railway employee, who did not wish to be quoted, said, “The issue of an inadequate number of seats at the railway station has been ignored for years. It has been brought to the notice of senior officials on a number of occasions, but to no avail.”

He said benches were installed on the platforms, but considering the number of passengers at the railway station on a daily basis, these are not sufficient.

Besides poor seating arrangement, there is no lift, causing in convenience to passengers, especially elderly and physically challenged.

Station Superintendent Ramswaroop Meena said, “Renovation work is going on at the railway station so we will install seats on different platforms once the work is complete. Moreover, we cannot provide seats to all 15,000-20,000 passengers. Sometimes, passengers prefer to sit on steps or on the floor even if benches or seats are vacant.”