Railway budget: Chandigarh residents’ gravy train suggestions

Ifrah Mufti, Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | 

Updated: Feb 08, 2016 

City residents listed complaints regarding the upkeep of the station and the long queues they have to endure to buy tickets. (HT File Photo)

Ahead of the Union Railway Budget, city residents have voiced their wish list asking for alarms in bogeys announcing the next station, post offices having rail ticket counters, online booking of unreserved ticket services and first aid facility at the Chandigarh station.

As HT spoke to people across the city, not only did they share a wish, but importantly listed complaints regarding the upkeep of the station and the long queues they have to endure to buy tickets.

City based businessman, Kapil Narang, said, “Whenever I come to the station, I realise that I belong to a fortunate lot who could book ticket online. The queues at the station are long and considering the rush, the station authorities should ideally increase the ticket counters and even staff for the convenience of passengers.”

Misha Madan, a resident of Zirakpur raised the lack of proper checking points at the Chandigarh station. “I believe that the relative and friends should be asked to leave from the main gate like at the airport or there should be certain restrictions to check the entry of people coming without tickets at the station, since nobody even asks a person entering at the station if he/she is carrying a platform ticket.”

More number of ticket vending machines at the station, more express trains for western Uttar Pradesh, good quality guest room, construction of ramp at the Panchkula side of the station, safe night vehicle parking facilities were some of the other demands which the residents shared.

Manas Jain, city resident, asks for a dedicated app for buying tickets having easily accessible features.

Pavitra Gaur, student of Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11, who travels to Delhi on every weekend said that the railways should have some kind of discounts for the college students. “Besides the discount, there should be certain reserved category in express trains for the college or university hostellers, residing in the city who have to travel to Delhi frequently, said Gaur.

‘De-link food cost from Shatabdis also’

Meanwhile, as the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has planned to announce a decision to de-link fare charges from catering costs in the premier trains in his upcoming budget speech, city residents wish the same policy can be implemented for Shatabdi trains, as there have been complaints in regard to the quality of the food, especially in Shatabdi express between Chandigarh and Delhi.

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) offers e-catering services at Chandigarh station as well. IRCTC has all the menu details on its official website and any food item could be ordered by entering the PNR number of the train.

Railways ask for suggestions

The web portal of the government of India mygov.in has also asked the citizens to give their suggestions for the railway budget. People can share their opinions by logging on the site