Mysuru: Due to lack of basic facilities at the Srirangapatana Railway Station, the passengers here are put into a lot of inconvenience. Though hundreds of passengers travel from this station every day, the railway authorities concerned have failed to even provide restroom facilities here. The women passengers bear the brunt more.
The railway minister and authorities keep speaking about railway safety and facility for the commuters but in reality, a lot needs to be done. Srirangapatana Railway Station is nearly 20 km away from Mysuru Railway Station and comes under Bengaluru division, South Western Railway. The place attracts thousands of tourists because of many places of visit like the famous Srikanteshwara Temple albeit with a lot of inconvenience to the passengers. This has been so for the past many months and the authorities are least bothered. The station authorities have also failed to keep the station neat and clean. Due to lack of restroom facility, the passengers in the railway station use open or public places to urinate.
Surprisingly, Suresh, Commercial Clerk at Srirangapatana station who is the in-charge here is not at all bothered about these issues. When questioned about improper toilet facilities, he says there are works going on in the station and hence toilet facility is the. When asked about the duration of works, he said it may take another two and a half months. He had no answer regarding passengers’ inconvenience in the process. The existing old latrine room is in the worst condition and hence not useful for the public.
Roopa who had come from Bengaluru said, “When I tried to go to the toilet, it was locked due to the unhygienic condition. It is stinking and one can’t go near it. Most of the men urinate in the open field but it is not possible for us. The railway authorities should immediately take steps to provide basic facilities especially the toilet room and keep the station neat and clean. Though there are works going on they can’t give such excuses. Basic facilities are our rights.”
In all, seven trains commute everyday from Mysuru as well as Bengaluru including Chamundi Express, Tirupathi Express, Chamarajanagar-Bengaluru and all the passenger trains stop at Srirangapatana Railway Station. Apart from thousands of people visiting the station on a regular basis, during weekends, full moon day and Karthika Somavara, the number increases by many folds.
