Imagine climbing up a flight of stairs – some 20 steep steps – from platform 9, walking over the footbridge and then descending down another 20 with your travel bags wheeled or unwheeled, shopping bags, handbag, etc., etc. by morning 4 am when not a single porter is around. That is how I recently got to Egmore station exit after alighting from my train. Egmore, Chennai is the second main railway station in the city after only to Chennai Central. All the trains to the state start from Egmore. Other state trains start running from Central. Egmore is also where Chennai Metro converges at underground level with Egmore railways station. So essentially we have two railway systems in the city converging at Egmore where passengers interchange trains/stations depending on their destinations. That makes Egmore railway station a hotspot.
There is a single elevator and a single elevator at service on one far end in Egmore (at the side entrance) but even they work only upto reaching the level of footbridge. From the footbridge to the train platform, you have to haul your luggage, no other go. And most importantly you can avail of either facility only when you go to Egmore to board a train for your onward journey. Both are not available when you are on return to Chennai and are unlucky enough to disembark at far-off platforms wherefrom you cannot walk out without climbing up and down flights of stairs. The plight of the elderly who have already spent tiring hours traveling by train is pathetic. No question of the station being disabled-friendly. So when you don’t take care of the basics, what is the need to go for Vande Bharat first of all. I have boarded the same Vande Bharat o Madurai CONVENIENTLY FROM PLATFORM 1 or 2 that don’t need you to sweat it out. Chennai is the state capital and if one of the two main railways stations in the city must be lacking fundamental amenities for passengers, then why do we need Vande Bharat at all.
My only solace was that, I carried 20 kg suitcase of mine, my shopping bags and my handbag all together up 20 steep steps and down again to catch a cab back home. I heaved for breath but I made it in single piece which means my heart must be ok! But this is a poor excuse to pardon the railways department for failing commuters grandly in basic and important matters which make them unreliable. This is not just gross negligence, this is the habitual apathy of our government that’s all. Most of us in my age band have life conditions such as blood pressure and diabetes. I am not used to hauling weights as well. I was worried really how my heart would take it. Up the stairs meant that I had to physically lift my luggage and could not drag it. Railways department puts those like me to unnecessary hardship. If this is the scenario in Chennai, think about the state of affairs in tier 2, tier 3 cities and towns.
This is why I am against modernization of Indian railways. Luxury can wait. First cater to the basics. Build more paid lavatories in the junctions which is more important. Every single railway station in India must have an escalator and an elevator both ways up and down connecting the two ends of the footbridge. The upper middle class of India can fly out easily. The Indian railways is for the middle classes and lower middle classes. This is why Indian railways must NEVER be privatized. There is more need for added essential/vital amenities at our railways stations and junctions than for the superfast and sleek Vande Bharat series of trains. And to give the best accessible platform to Vande Bharat trains is another sad reality. It is also alleged that to maintain time for Vande Bharat express trains, other trains meant for the general janata are put on hold at signals. Having traveled by Vande Bharat to Madurai, I appreciate the service. But overt focus on sophistication of Indian railways may be diverting funds meant for upgrade of the services and amenities meant for the welfare and comfort of the masses.
Indian government must focus on improving the quality of life for the man in the street not for our creamy classes at the expense of middle classes. So are the middle classes only your vote bank who don’t deserve to be treated better? Who is the tax evader? The business communities fudge figures not the salaried middle classes who have nothing to hide. Its the elite of India who run a parallel black money market, not the hardworking and honest and transparent tax paying middle classes. Hoping to see what is necessary done at our Egmore station in near future. I am tagging PMO, PM, INDIAN RAILWAYS.
vijiravindran's 